Review: ‘Concussion’ Doesn’t Hit Hard Against NFL but an American Dream is Realized & CTE Becomes Real
“Tell the truth” – Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith)
From the first time I saw the trailer for the movie Concussion that scene stood out the most to me. Hype surrounding the movie promised a film taking on the mighty NFL and exposing the world to CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and it’s affect on our beloved football stars. While it indeed tackled that issue (how strongly is subjective), what I also drew from it was the story of a man trying to live the American dream.
From the very first scene shown in the trailer Smith is seen telling his wife Prema (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), “When I was a boy heaven was here and America was here (just below it)”. Throughout the movie if you pay attention you will see more scenes and quotes depicting Omalu’s quest to be an “American”. In contrast, the Nigerian immigrant ends up discovering a disease that threatens the biggest sport in America.
The opening scene focuses on beloved Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mike Webster (David Morse). Webster is homeless living in his car; he’s suffering from severe changes in mood including depression and anxiety. He has a loss of cognition and erratic behavior. It is through Webster and later through other players Justin Strzelczyk (Matthew Willig) and Dave Duerson (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) whom we actually see kill themselves that is when CTE becomes real to us and not just something former players and the NFL are fighting about.
Our first scene with Dr. Bennet Omalu is he going through his extensive list of college degrees while testifying in a murder case. It is here we learn that Omalu is intelligent and meticulous. A forensic pathologist, Omalu infuriates one of his co-workers by speaking gently to the bodies and believing they have a story to tell about why they are now laying on his table. Omalu is given the job of running the autopsy on Webster. While Omalu’s coworker and major Steelers fan does not want to desecrate the body of the beloved star, Omalu is determined to find out how Webster’s brain deteriorated at a young age and does not believe its early onset Alzheimer’s as other doctors attributed to past football patients. Omalu runs a serious of expensive tests, which he must pay for out of his own pocket and it is then he discovers CTE.
Omalu faces opposition from the NFL and other doctors who refer to him as a “quack”. He is helped by Dr. Julian Bailes (Alec Baldwin), a former NFL doctor who becomes Omalu’s main supporter. At one point Omalu says, “I am the wrong person to have discovered this,” when actually he is the perfect person because he is not an American. Omalu doesn’t fully understand the power of the NFL, which has “it’s own day of the week”.
After Omalu publishes his CTE work in a medical journal it begins to gain traction. We do not see much of what the NFL does to try and stop Omalu, they are more like a shadowy villain; there’s phone calls in the night, the appearance of someone possibly outside his house, and someone appearing to follow his wife Prema while she’s driving home. The FBI threatens to deport Omalu if he doesn’t testify against his boss, the person whom supported Omalu’s findings from the beginning. It is here again we see Omalu’s desperation to remain in America and become an American.
Omalu fights through each obstacle but if you’re expecting a Hollywood ending in the case of CTE well there is none to be had here. If you’ve been paying attention to the news, the NFL reached a $1 billion settlement in a class action suit filed by thousands of former players. It allowed compensating victims, paying for medical exams and underwriting research, but the NFL still denies any wrongdoing. The NFL also pulled out of funding a CTE study at Boston University that will be led by Dr. Robert Stern, a prominent Boston University researcher who has been critical of the league.
But this is an American movie after all so it had to be tied up in a neat bow. Omalu becomes an American citizen and is seen in the White House being offered the highest position of investigating deaths; he hits the pinnacle of the American dream. He turns it down however and moves to California with his wife Prema where they have children and live happily ever after.
Though the film falls short of the hard-hitting expose some of us were looking forward to, it does open our eyes and hearts to CTE and hopefully takes us further in the right direction.
Shay Marie: Twitter || Instagram
THE BLOG
HOT 97
LINKS
MUSIC
Bobby Konders Presents: Massive B Legacy, Vol. 1
Release Date: November 19th, 2018 Bobby Konders Presents: Massive B Legacy – Volume 1 is now available and includes ten features on ten tracks. Burro Banton, Vybez Kartel, Bounty Killa, Sizzla, T.O.K., Elephantman, Richie Spice, Chezidek, Chronicle, and King Kong. You can listen on Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal.
#MusicStillMatters New Music: A Boogie – Nice For What
A boogie gave fans a snippet of this one via his instagram. Finally after all the request to drop the full version from fans – here it is. Check A Boogie’s version of “Nice For What.” Listen below.
#MusicStillMatters New Music: Dave East – Imagine
Dave East is set to release the 2nd installment of his “Karma” series, next week on July 27. Check out this new one off the tape called “Imagine.” Listen below.
#MusicStillMatters New Music: 070 Shake – Accusations
The G.O.O.D. Music rookie 070 Shake releases a new one called “Accusations.” Listen below.
(Video) Tony James – Sweat Slow
Toronto’s very own Tony James has released his major label debut single and visual for “Sweat Slow.” Tony says this one “Is about the one that got away, so we wanted to show the beautiful, happy women representing the ex-girlfriends of the men who took them for granted.” Look out for more from Tony this…
#MusicStillMatters New Music: Childish Gambino – Summertime Magic / Feels Like Summer
Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover follows up his video/song “This Is America” with not only one, but two records for the summer. The “Atlanta” creator tweeted “summer pack,” with a link to his songs, “Summertime Magic” and “Feels Like Summer.”
#MusicStillMatters Stream: Meek Mill – Legends Of The Summer
Meek Mill decided to treat his fans to new music when he dropped a new EP called “Legends of the Summer.” the 4-track tape features Swizz Beatz, Jeremih and PNB Rock. Stream below.
#MusicStillMatters Stream: Future – Beast Mode 2
Future links up with Zaytoven for the follow up to 2015’s “Beast Mode” titled “Beast Mode 2” which includes 9 tracks with a feature from Young Scooter. Listen below.
#MusicStillMatters New Music: T-Pain – Boo’d Up (Remix)
First it was Nicki Minaj and Quavo who put their touch on the track to mixed reviews. Then Fabolous laid his verse on the hit single. Now, T-Pain decided to give his take on the track. Listen below.
TECH TALK
We Know What YG’s Next Purchase Will Be: This ALL RED Special Edition iPhone!
An all red iPhone is on the way – I’m sure much to the delight of the Bloods. LOL! A special edition red version of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have been introduced, in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Apple’s partnership with HIV/AIDS organization, (Red).
(Video) Apple Unveils New Spaceship Campus Called “Apple Park”
One of Steve Jobs projects he left behind before his untimely death from pancreatic cancer, was the Apple spaceship campus. Take a look.
(Video) Lil Wayne Featured In EA’s ‘Need For Speed: No Limits’ Game
While we still have no Carter 5 in sight, we can at least get SOMETHING from Lil Wayne in the form of EA’s new mobile game, Need For Speed: No Limits. Players can drive as Weezy in the game, and both his voice and likeness are there for fans to enjoy. Tune is also working…
Sprint Purchases 33% Stake In Jay-Z’s Tidal
Power moves on power moves on top of power moves. Hov just struck a big deal for Tidal and the artists who have stake in the company as well, through Sprint.
(Video) Travis Scott Previews New Heat On Snapchat
Looks like Travis Scott is cooking something up…Astroworld this year?
Azealia Banks Has Been Banned From Facebook
AzealiaBanksVEVO Well, that took longer than expected.
(Video + Photo) Ariana Grande Got Her Own Character In “Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius” Game
Soon you’ll be able to play as Ariana in Final Fantasy and she broke the news to her fans yesterday.
SoundCloud Makes A Major Update That MANY People Will Be Happy About!
When SoundCloud first came out, it quickly became a hub for DJs, uploading their mixes and gaining a decent following because of it. However, as labels became more hip to the new site, they began issuing copyright infringements left to right, and DJs began leaving the streaming website in droves – especially because their accounts…
MARISA EXPLAINS IT ALL
Marisa Mendez x Jamal x Tunisia – Marisa Explains It All [Episode 16: “Holiday Hangover”]
We’ve made it to episode 16 of my podcast, Marisa Explains It All, and I finally decided to share it with you guys here. LOL! On this episode, we pre-gamed before the Ebro In The Morning holiday party…and uh, yeah. Drunk talk and feelings were at an all time high. Our music picks are as…
Behind The Lyrics: Lil Wayne Admits To Botched Suicide Attempt As A Child On “London Roads”
Lil Wayne has long recounted a story of “accidentally” shooting himself when he was 12, playing with a 9 mm handgun. Thankfully, an off-duty cop was around to help young Tune, and he survived to become the rap star he is today. Apparently, that wasn’t the whole story, though! On “London Roads”, a song from…
(Video) Machine Gun Kelly Finally Opens Up About Amber Rose
Machine Gun Kelly is one of my favorite artists and has been a good friend of mine for years now, so it was double the blessing to make my Hot 97 interview debut with him on Ebro In The Morning today! The Bad Boy rapper stopped by to discuss his new single and its powerful…
Behind The Lyrics: Wiz Khalifa Comes For Amber’s Neck On “For Everybody”
Last night, Juicy J dropped his Wiz Khalifa-assisted single “For Everybody,” and boy did Wiz have some choice words for his ex Amber Rose on the track! And to drive the point home, they included a photo of themselves at his wedding to Amber as the song’s artwork.
(Video) Honey Cocaine Plays A Hilarious Game Of Taboo
Toronto-bred raptress Honey Cocaine made her rounds at Hot 97 a few weeks back, promoting her latest mixtape Like A Drug, and its 2 singles, “Gwola” featuring Kid Ink and Maino, and “None Of My Business” with Kirko Bangz and Constantine. Following her dope interview with Jen From BK for Jen’s “Ladies First” segment, I…
Interview: Machine Gun Kelly On Debut Film: “I hope that it kind of strikes a social issue…” [PLUS Details On Sophomore Album!]
This Friday, Colson ‘MGK‘ Baker will make his big-screen debut, starring as Kid Culprit in the romantic drama, Beyond The Lights. Since his 2012 Bad Boy/Interscope debut Lace Up and his breakout single “Wild Boy,” Kells has toured the world and shot not only Beyond The Lights, but two more as-of-yet unreleased films as well.…
Elijah Blake Gives 7 Tips How NOT To Act Around A Celeb, Plus Talks New EP, His First Big Check & More!
Singer/songwriter Elijah Blake has worked with a majority of the biggest names in the music business from Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Usher, Mary J and more, either having written for them or being featured on their songs. Now with his recently released Drift EP (available on iTunes here,) the talented Def Jam signee sat down to…
IFWT Exclusive: Maino Gives Us The REAL Story Of What Happened With The Porn Star!
Maino is currently being sought out by the NYPD for questioning, after an adult film star accused him of assaulting her inside of his truck after they partied at Griffin on Monday night with Drake, Ashanti, JR Smith and more. According to the police report filed by the porn star, Mellanie Monroe, “he started punching…
Mila J Reveals The Real Deal Between Her & A Rumored Beau, Plus Talks New EP, Diet/Workout, Her Mains & More!
Gorgeous singer/songwriter/dancer Mila J finally released her debut EP M.I.L.A. (Made In L.A.) yesterday, after years of trying out girl groups, various solo ventures, random day jobs and the like. She’s finally found her niche now though, and has seen success with her latest singles, “Smoke, Drink, Break-Up” and the Ty Dolla $ign-assisted, “My Main.”…