Concussion is described as a true-life “sports thriller” based on the story of Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian neurosurgeon who discovered evidence of a degenerative brain disease in American footballers caused by repeated head trauma.
In a David-versus-Goliath confrontation, Omalu took on one of the most powerful organisations in the world, America’ s National Football League, in his campaign to have his research recognised and a treatment developed. And, as the trailer for Concussion indicates, they did everything in their power to discredit him and maintain the status quo.
“You’re going to war with a corporation that owns a day of the week,” Omalu is warned by his lawyer at one stage.
Ridley Scott had originally intended to film Concussion after he read about two pro footballers who had committed suicide when they contracted the disease. But he was contracted to Exodus: Gods & Kings and he soon found that there were two rival projects in various states of preparation.
To expedite production, Concussion was passed on to writer/director Peter Landesman (Parkland, Kill the Messenger) and, with Scott producing, Landesman based his script on an exposé by men’s magazine GQ, which was published under the title ‘Brain Change’ in 2009.
Concussion, which was shot in Pittsburgh in the latter part of 2014 has a vast name-cast, with Will Smith as Omalu and Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Pail Reiser, Luke Wilson, Eddie Marsan, Gugu Embatha Raw and David Morse in support. It will be released here at the end of February.
