Soon to be a major motion picture starring will smith, concussion is the riveting, unlikely story of dr. Will smith takes on the nfl in concussion trailer star plays the doctor who discovered a link between football injuries and earlyonset dementia that could lead to death in a film that seems sure. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects your brains function. Omalus new book released august 8, truth doesnt have a side. Her writing has appeared in gq, esquire, the new york times magazine, o. Rebecca skloot, author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks the story of dr. The doctor who inspired the movie concussion truth doesnt. Concussion inc the end of football as we know it by. Written and directed by peter landesman, concussion includes among its stars will smith, gugu mbatharaw, alec baldwin, david morse, albert brooks, and arliss howard.
Is the will smith movie concussion based on a true story. Bennet omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of cte, a footballrelated brain trauma, in. This summary of concussion includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Bennet omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made.
Concussion depicts the story of a neuropathologist, dr. The film of the book concussion, by jeanne marie laskas, will be in theaters on christmas day, with an alist cast of will smith, alec baldwin and albert brooks and produced by ridley scott, only. Oscarnominated actor will smith stars in concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the true story of forensic neuropathologist bennet. The hijacking of the civilrights movement by todays black race hustlers and white liberals, all acting through the. Will smith is a pathologist who starts doing autopsies on these players and discovers that there is a common theme, being repeated head trauma to the brain.
Bennet omalu, the neuropathologist portrayed by will smith in the 2015 awardnominated film concussion, may not understand one of our countrys biggest athletic obsessions, but he understands. A death in the family chapter 11 auto that came along and asked them to get a doctor. Bennet omalu, a pathologist who becomes embroiled in a battle with the nfl. Will smiths film concussion causes controversy with nfl. Taut, gripping, and gorgeously told, concussion is the stirring story of one unlikely mans decision to stand up to a multibilliondollar colossus, and to tell the world the truth. Book by concussion doctor is recommended reading for parents of. The book affords an opportunity for students to experience nonfiction at its best. Bennet omalu, played by will smith, and his struggle to warn the national football league of a brain condition that he discovered in. Bennet omalu and his battle to raise awareness about the issue of brain. Advance praise for concussion a gripping medical mystery and a dazzling portrait of the young scientist no one wanted to listen to.
Concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury mtbi, is typically defined as a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical. W ill smiths concussion turns out to have an appropriate title. Bennet omalus battle against the nfl is classic david and goliath stuff, and jeanne marie laskasone of my favorite writers on. Bennet omalu, smiths characters reallife counterpart, discuss the concussion movie. Assessment of visualmotor tracking following concussion. Bennet omalu, a forensic pathologist who fights against. Concussions are usually caused by a direct blow to the head, but can also occur after a motor vehicle accident. I was interested in the will smith movie concussion but found this book to be vastly more interesting by focusing on an ensemble of major players both literal nfl players, as in the case of mike webster and in the people arguing on either side of the nfl concussion issue. All of the discussion questions and assignments suggested below will be helpful for students who have read the book as well as for those who have only.
Photograph by melinda sue gordon columbia pictures everett. The article was later expanded by laskas into a book, concussion penguin random house, 2015, and adapted into a drama film of the same name. A third of the way through, football had been mentioned only once. If you saw the film concussion, starring will smith, you know that bennet omalu is the unlikely figure who rocked the foundation of. The movie starts out by showing these players who freak out and start getting dimentia. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. It involves enforcing rules that are already on the rule book about headto. The movie,concussion, which will premiere nationwide late in december is based on the true story of a nigerian immigrant who, as a neuropatholgist working in a medical examiners lab in.
Book by concussion doctor is recommended reading for. If you saw the film concussion, starring will smith, you know that bennet omalu is the unlikely figure who rocked the foundation of the. Concussion movie vs true story of bennet omalu, mike webster. Aug 31, 2015 will smith stars in concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true david vs. As set out above, twm strongly suggests having students in grades ten through college read the book concussion. Taut, gripping, and gorgeously told, concussion is the stirring true story of one unlikely mans courageous decision to stand up to a multibilliondollar colossus bent on silencing him, and to tell the world the truth. Dec 23, 2015 i am the wrong person to have discovered this, dr.
Oct 30, 2017 if you saw the film concussion, starring will smith, you know that bennet omalu is the unlikely figure who rocked the foundation of the national football league and all of football with his. Concussion will smith and albert brooks overview filmmaker peter landesman parkland wrote and directed this sportsthemed drama based on jeanne marie laskas gq article game brain, about the potentially horrific cost of playing football. Similarly, alec baldwin, playing against type as a retired nfl team doctor who assists omalu, turns in a strong supporting performance. The real doctors behind concussion movie speak out. Parents need to know that concussion stars will smith as the reallife dr. Will smith stars in concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true david vs. Concussion was published in 2015, to great critical acclaim.
The nfls reaction to the concussion movie starring will. Will smith stars as an american hero who took on an institution to deliver the truth. Dec 24, 2015 in concussion, will smith is bringing the controversial true story of how one doctor discovered cte chronic traumatic encephalopathy a brain disease caused by the repetitive head trauma. Her book builds on game brain, a 2014 article she wrote for gq about omalus work. That discovery and its aftermath are the basis for jeanne marie laskas latest book, concussion. Oct 06, 2015 new york times bestseller now a major motion picture starring will smith, concussion is the riveting, unlikely story of dr. The doctor said that jay hit his chin hard on the steering wheel, and that the concussion from that impact killed him instantly. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical discoveries of the twentyfirst century, a discovery that challenges the existence of america s favorite sport and pu. Actor will smith says at first he was conflicted about his latest movie, concussion. Dec 07, 2015 the upcoming film concussion also grew out of laskass article, and it arrives in theaters right on the heels of the book. Bennet omalu inspired the film starring will smith. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of concussion by jeanne marie laskas. New york times bestseller now a major motion picture starring will smith, concussion is the riveting, unlikely story of dr. Books on mild brain injury and concussion in adults.
Bennet omalu, a forensic pathologist who fights against the national football league trying to suppress his research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The current thought in finding a cure is to develop a medication that would prevent the buildup of tau proteins in the brain, which is the characteristic component of cte. Jeanne marie laskas, author of the new york times bestselling book concussion, visited lawrence livermore national laboratory llnl last week, drawing a crowd of more than 200 employees to hear firsthand the sequence of events that led to her book and the subsequent hollywood movie starring will smith. A sensitive will smith anchors film that hits home. Download pdf concussion free online new books in politics. Concussion by jeanne marie laskas is part true crime thriller, part. Bennet omalu, played in this movie by will smith, laments to his wife prema, near the final quarter of concussion. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches, concentration problems, memory loss, balance and coordination difficulties. His story is told in the major motion picture concussion, starring will smith. The movie is called concussion, and its reportedly causing the nfl a bit of a headache. The nfls concussion crisis, and read the fainaru brothers nonfiction book of the. Bennet omalu, a nigerian forensic pathologist who conducts the autopsy of a former nfl star and discovers chronic traumatic encephalopathy cte, the result of repetitive head injuries from years of playing football. Omalu will smith speaks about cte and the dangers of playing football at a nflpa conference.
Smiths character, the nigerianborn doctor bennet omalu, then must battle the powerful football league to share his findings with the public. Starring will smith, alec baldwin, albert brooks, david morse based on the. She has written a number of books, including hidden america. Dec 31, 2015 will smith and alec baldwin in a scene from the film concussion, directed by peter landesman. Jun 17, 2019 the real story behind concussion with the release of concussion on december 25, heres a look at the real story of dr. With will smith in the lead, oscarbaiting role of omalu, it seems certain both that the concussion controversy will receive renewed attention and that the word forgotten will not be attached to the doctors name going. Jeanne marie laskas is the author of seven books, including concussion, hidden america, and the exact same moon.
Aug 11, 2017 bennet omalu, the neuropathologist portrayed by will smith in the 2015 awardnominated film concussion, may not understand one of our countrys biggest athletic obsessions, but he understands what it is to be an american better than anyone i know. A now a major motion picture starring will smith, concussion is the riveting, unlikely story of dr. Laskas serves as director of the writing program at the university of pittsburgh, where she teaches creative writing, and she lives on a horse farm in pennsylvania with her husband and two children. Bennet omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play. This had the unfortunate effect of giving it the feel of a rubber chicken circuit rather than a colloquy. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical discoveries of the twentyfirst century, a discovery that challenges the existence of americas favorite sport and puts omalu in the crosshairs of footballs most powerful. Bennet omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of cte, a footballrelated brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Bennet omalu, a nigerian born doctor, who, as a forensic pathologist discovered a link between repetitive football injuries and brain injury. The 2015 film concussion, which is nominated for an mtv movie award in the true story category, stars will smith as dr. Six things concussion the movie wont tell you but brain experts will. Five days before the movie concussion hits theaters, one of the nfls brightest young stars took a running start and launched himself head.
Bennet omalu, a nigerianborn pathologist who brought the issue of brain damage in retired nfl players to the forefront, concussion is the sort of underdogstaresdown. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical discoveries of the 21st century, a discovery that challenges the existence of americas favorite sport and puts omalu in the crosshairs of footballs most powerful corporation. Concussion available in bluray, dvd, 4k ultra hd ship this item qualifies for free shipping buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this. Omalu is a very relatable character, and we feel for him in. Read excerpts from the book in the atlantic and the wall street journal. The greatest strength of concussion is its outstanding cast. The real doctors behind concussion movie, bennet omalu.
Concussion recounts how one doctor challenged nfl culture of denial. Books and information on effects of mild brain injury and concussion in adults concussion is the most common type of brain injury but there is nothing mild about it. Laskas dishes on the concussion controversy lawrence. What i liked this book was such an unexpected surprise for me. Bennet omalus battle against the nfl is classic david and goliath stuff, and jeanne marie laskasone of my favorite writers on earth. Concussion makes a christian argument against football. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Despite its sometimes mechanical approach, concussion is anchored by will smiths star performance and the matter at hand. Omalu, a practitioner who has such pride in his profession that he corrects people who refer to him as mister with doctor, but who is so kindhearted, brilliant. With will smith, alec baldwin, albert brooks, david morse.
Concussion is a biographical picture that takes place in the early 2000s. Dec 25, 2015 concussion is a biographical picture that takes place in the early 2000s. Traditional assessments of concussion involve subjective assessments of performance on cognitive function and. Bennett omalu l and will smith, who portrayed him in the film. Will smiths upcoming film is stirring up some controversy, and it hasnt even hit theaters yet. From coal miners to cowboys, an extraordinary exploration of the unseen people who make this country work, to her most recent book to obama. Laskas trades in sportwriterese, all staccato delivery full of tough guy isms and sports cliches. Concussion, the movie, may change way football is played. Omalu, offering a strong example of integrity and perseverance, goes. New york times bestseller the riveting, unlikely story of dr. Both jeanne marie laskas book and gq article on dr.
Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical discoveries of the twentyfirst century, a discovery that challenges the. Will smith turns in an exceptional starring performance as omalu his nigerian accent is remarkable. Concussion recounts how one doctor challenged nfl culture. Author of concussion talks about her book, the movie and. Nov 24, 2015 omalus study of the unfortunate brain of pittsburgh steeler mike webster, who died in 2002 at 50 of a supposed heart attack, brought new attention to the trauma of concussion. In the film, omalu, portrayed by will smith, is the central character. A concussion can cause physical, cognitive and emotional changes that affect concentration, sleep, coordination, attention, memory and other areas. I share the view of many that concussion, although not without its flaws and controversies, is certainly a brilliantly acted, written, and directed film. Concussion by peter landesman peter landesman, will smith. The doctor who inspired the movie concussion truth doesn.
To ask other readers questions about concussion, please sign up. Bennet omalu and will smith concussion interview video. In concussion, will smith is bringing the controversial true story of how one doctor discovered cte chronic traumatic encephalopathy a. One might expect that pop warner, the nations largest youth football program, would flinch at the release of a trailer for the upcoming will smith film concussion. Although the film claims merely to be based on real events, it has been criticized for inaccuracies. Despite its sometimes mechanical approach, concussion is anchored by will smith s star performance and the matter at hand. Concussion is a 2015 american biographical sports drama film directed and written by peter landesman, based on the expose game brain by jeanne marie laskas, published in 2009 by gq magazine.
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