Throughout King Richard, I kept waiting for a flashback. The thing about biopics is that even the good ones tend to be overstuffed, bogged down by an incessant need to fill out their subject’s life. It generally comes with the price of admission. But director Reinaldo Marcus Green’s latest offering never indulges the genre’s cradle-to-grave instincts. It’s a relief, and also a reminder that, despite its title coronating Richard Williams, this is really the origin story of his tennis prodigies, Venus and Serena, whom he willed onto an unrelenting trajectory to superstardom. He only operates within the confines of their development.
The starting point is a 78-page plan, a manifesto that Richard (Will Smith) believes will chart a championship course for his gifted daughters. As deftly depicted by Green, his training sessions, which began when Venus was just four years old on the beleaguered courts of their Compton neighborhood,...
The starting point is a 78-page plan, a manifesto that Richard (Will Smith) believes will chart a championship course for his gifted daughters. As deftly depicted by Green, his training sessions, which began when Venus was just four years old on the beleaguered courts of their Compton neighborhood,...
- 11/19/2021
- by Jake Kring-Schreifels
- The Film Stage
All products and services featured by IndieWire are independently selected by IndieWire editors. However, IndieWire may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
With two films slated for release this year and an upcoming award at the 78th annual Venice Film Festival, Ridley Scott has a lot to celebrate. The 83-year-old English director’s next release, “The Last Duel,” will premiere at the Italian film festival in September before being released stateside on October 15.
And then there’s “House of Gucci” — the highly anticipated crime drama starring Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, and Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci. The film follows the tumultuous relationship and deadly divorce of the heads of the Gucci empire. Also worth mentioning: Jared Leto makes a stunning transformation for the role of Maurizio’s cousin, Paolo Gucci.
With so much well-deserved...
With two films slated for release this year and an upcoming award at the 78th annual Venice Film Festival, Ridley Scott has a lot to celebrate. The 83-year-old English director’s next release, “The Last Duel,” will premiere at the Italian film festival in September before being released stateside on October 15.
And then there’s “House of Gucci” — the highly anticipated crime drama starring Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, and Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci. The film follows the tumultuous relationship and deadly divorce of the heads of the Gucci empire. Also worth mentioning: Jared Leto makes a stunning transformation for the role of Maurizio’s cousin, Paolo Gucci.
With so much well-deserved...
- 8/14/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad and Angel Saunders
- Indiewire
Editor’s note: Noah Tsika teaches media studies at Queens College, City University of New York. His books include “Nollywood Stars” and a forthcoming history of film distribution and exhibition in Nigeria.
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently elected to remove Genevieve Nnaji’s Nigerian film “Lionheart” from the Oscar race — or, at least, from competition in the category now known as Best International Feature Film — it entered fraught territory: In a decision that stems from longstanding submission guidelines, the Academy ruled “Lionheart” ineligible because it’s an English-language production. But the outrage surrounding the ruling speaks to enduring debates about the postcolonial employment of European languages — the colonizers’ tongues — and why these debates remain so contentious.
The issue goes beyond this incident. Nigeria, and Nigerians, remain so unfamiliar to the Hollywood establishment that Ridley Scott’s production company, seemingly responding as much to the star...
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently elected to remove Genevieve Nnaji’s Nigerian film “Lionheart” from the Oscar race — or, at least, from competition in the category now known as Best International Feature Film — it entered fraught territory: In a decision that stems from longstanding submission guidelines, the Academy ruled “Lionheart” ineligible because it’s an English-language production. But the outrage surrounding the ruling speaks to enduring debates about the postcolonial employment of European languages — the colonizers’ tongues — and why these debates remain so contentious.
The issue goes beyond this incident. Nigeria, and Nigerians, remain so unfamiliar to the Hollywood establishment that Ridley Scott’s production company, seemingly responding as much to the star...
- 11/8/2019
- by Noah Tsika
- Indiewire
California has an assisted-suicide law. It was in effect when Stephon Clark went running into his grandmother’s backyard nearly a year ago, pursued by two Sacramento police officers who shot and killed him there. But the state’s End of Life Option Act didn’t apply to Clark. Sacramento district attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who announced Sunday that she wouldn’t charge his killers with a crime, knew that Clark wasn’t terminally ill. But Schubert, who put up fences on public property outside her G Street office in...
- 3/5/2019
- by Jamil Smith
- Rollingstone.com
Al Sharpton Calls for ‘Accountability’ After Da Declines to Charge Officers in Stephon Clark Killing
Al Sharpton called for police to be held accountable Saturday on his MSNBC show Politics Nation, after prosecutors in Sacramento announced they would not charge the officers who fatally shot Stephon Clark, an unarmed African-American man.
Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert held a news conference Saturday afternoon saying Officers Terrance Mercadal and Jared Robinet lawfully used lethal force when they killed Clark last March.
“There’s no question that a human being died,” Schubert told reporters. “But, when we look at the facts and the law, and we follow our ethical responsibilities… we will not charge these officers with any criminal liability related to the shooting death and use of force on Stephon Clark.”
Shortly after the announcement, Sharpton tweeted a clip from his show about the Clark case and the 2016 police shooting of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma saying, “Accountability will help to repair community relations. There must be justice and transparency.
Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert held a news conference Saturday afternoon saying Officers Terrance Mercadal and Jared Robinet lawfully used lethal force when they killed Clark last March.
“There’s no question that a human being died,” Schubert told reporters. “But, when we look at the facts and the law, and we follow our ethical responsibilities… we will not charge these officers with any criminal liability related to the shooting death and use of force on Stephon Clark.”
Shortly after the announcement, Sharpton tweeted a clip from his show about the Clark case and the 2016 police shooting of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma saying, “Accountability will help to repair community relations. There must be justice and transparency.
- 3/3/2019
- by Anita Bennett
- Deadline Film + TV
Keshia Knight Pulliam's ex says no way in hell a famous Cte doctor should be allowed to testify in their divorce case ... claiming the Dr. never treated him. Ed Hartwell filed legal docs in Fulton County, Georgia asking the judge Not to allow Keshia's legal team to use Dr. Bennet Omalu as an expert witness. Omalu, of course, is the real-life doctor who inspired the Will Smith movie, "Concussion." In docs, obtained by TMZ,...
- 3/23/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Dr. Bennet Omalu -- the man who discovered Cte -- tells TMZ Sports, "There is no question in my mind that Cte drove Aaron Hernandez to suicide and other criminal and violent behavior." Fyi, Dr. Omalu is the real-life doctor who inspired the Will Smith movie, "Concussion." We reached out to Omalu after Hernandez's fiancee filed her lawsuit against the NFL and the New England Patriots -- claiming the league failed to share information connecting Cte and suicidal tendencies.
- 9/22/2017
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
In an announcement today by his family’s attorney, Aaron Hernandez was added to the growing list of athletes who have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or Cte.
The degenerative brain disease is linked to repeated head trauma or concussions. Its symptoms depression, short-term memory loss, impulsive behavior and confusion — and these symptoms can begin to appear long after a player’s career. Evidence is mounting suggesting a link between playing football and the disease.
Cte can only be diagnosed after death, and in a recent study of the brains of 111 deceased NFL players, a Boston University researcher found...
The degenerative brain disease is linked to repeated head trauma or concussions. Its symptoms depression, short-term memory loss, impulsive behavior and confusion — and these symptoms can begin to appear long after a player’s career. Evidence is mounting suggesting a link between playing football and the disease.
Cte can only be diagnosed after death, and in a recent study of the brains of 111 deceased NFL players, a Boston University researcher found...
- 9/21/2017
- by Jason Duaine Hahn
- PEOPLE.com
[[tmz:video id="0_1ek86fqo"]] Gisele is a heroic whistle-blower who did an "angelic" thing by going public with Tom Brady's secret concussion history ... so says the doctor who discovered Cte, Bennet Omalu. Omalu is the real life person that inspired the movie "Concussion" -- he was famously played by Will Smith. He also wrote the book, 'Truth Doesn't Have a Side' about the dangers of contact sports. So, how did he react when he saw Gisele finally reveal Tom's concussion history on television?...
- 5/17/2017
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
After documenting the groundbreaking research conducted by Dr. Bennet Omalu in Concussion, writer-director Peter Landesman ventured back in time for Felt, a period drama set to thrust Liam Nesson into the political cauldron of Deep Throat, Watergate and the crumbling Nixon administration. But Deadline is reporting that the filmmaker is ready to venture back further still – all the way back to the throes of World War II for The Last Battle.
Mining the story first told in Stephen Harding’s non-fiction novel The Last Battle: When U.S. And German Soldiers Joined Forces In The Waning Hours Of World War II In Europe, Landesman’s adaptation has set up shop at StudioCanal and The Picture Company. Before taking the formative steps into the film industry, Landesman made a living as an investigative reporter, and early intel for The Last Battle teases a match made in cinematic heaven.
Set during...
Mining the story first told in Stephen Harding’s non-fiction novel The Last Battle: When U.S. And German Soldiers Joined Forces In The Waning Hours Of World War II In Europe, Landesman’s adaptation has set up shop at StudioCanal and The Picture Company. Before taking the formative steps into the film industry, Landesman made a living as an investigative reporter, and early intel for The Last Battle teases a match made in cinematic heaven.
Set during...
- 1/25/2017
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Dialect coach Erik Singer analyzed the accents of some of Hollywood’s biggest names and explained how accurate they really were in a new video for Wired.
Singer first looks at Brad Pitt’s role of Lt. Aldo Raine in “Inglourious Basterds” and explains what makes a good Southern accent. After listening to the actor, Singer states that Pitt doesn’t really hit key words that he’s supposed to.
He then analyzes Will Smith’s Nigerian accent in “Concussion” and explains that Smith is playing real-life doctor Bennet Omalu, who has a “somewhat Americanized Nigerian accent.”
“Smith doesn’t seem to be going for Omalu’s voice so much as a kind of generalized Nigerian or African accent,” he adds.
Read More: ‘Empire’ Showrunner Ilene Chaiken on How to Handle Trump’s Presidency – IndieWire’s Turn It On Podcast
With two actors down who haven’t perfected their role,...
Singer first looks at Brad Pitt’s role of Lt. Aldo Raine in “Inglourious Basterds” and explains what makes a good Southern accent. After listening to the actor, Singer states that Pitt doesn’t really hit key words that he’s supposed to.
He then analyzes Will Smith’s Nigerian accent in “Concussion” and explains that Smith is playing real-life doctor Bennet Omalu, who has a “somewhat Americanized Nigerian accent.”
“Smith doesn’t seem to be going for Omalu’s voice so much as a kind of generalized Nigerian or African accent,” he adds.
Read More: ‘Empire’ Showrunner Ilene Chaiken on How to Handle Trump’s Presidency – IndieWire’s Turn It On Podcast
With two actors down who haven’t perfected their role,...
- 11/18/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
The National Football League will spend $100 million to study the development of new technology and the effects on head injuries, it announced on Wednesday. The pledge is part of a new initiative called Play Smart. Play Safe, which is meant "to drive progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of head injuries, enhance medical protocols and further improve the way the game is taught and played by all who love it," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in an open letter. The NFL has come under fire for head injuries in recent years, as players and medical professionals have raised concerns about their long-term impact on athletes.
- 9/15/2016
- by Caitlin Keating, @caitkeating
- PEOPLE.com
The National Football League will spend $100 million to study the development of new technology and the effects on head injuries, it announced on Wednesday. The pledge is part of a new initiative called Play Smart. Play Safe, which is meant "to drive progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of head injuries, enhance medical protocols and further improve the way the game is taught and played by all who love it," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in an open letter. The NFL has come under fire for head injuries in recent years, as players and medical professionals have raised concerns about their long-term impact on athletes.
- 9/15/2016
- by Caitlin Keating, @caitkeating
- PEOPLE.com
Chyna was planning a triumphant return to wrestling before she died in of apparent overdose last week, manager and longtime friend Anthony Anzaldo tells People.
The former WWE star – who Anzaldo found unresponsive in her Redondo Beach, California apartment a week ago – was eight months into filming a documentary called The Reconstruction of Chyna that would have culminated with her back in the ring this coming fall, Anzaldo says.
"The goal was she has to go in gets her health, she triumphs, she wins," he says. "That was going to be her Rocky ending to this amazing documentary."
Even though Chyna,...
The former WWE star – who Anzaldo found unresponsive in her Redondo Beach, California apartment a week ago – was eight months into filming a documentary called The Reconstruction of Chyna that would have culminated with her back in the ring this coming fall, Anzaldo says.
"The goal was she has to go in gets her health, she triumphs, she wins," he says. "That was going to be her Rocky ending to this amazing documentary."
Even though Chyna,...
- 4/28/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- People.com - TV Watch
Chyna was planning a triumphant return to wrestling before she died in of apparent overdose last week, manager and longtime friend Anthony Anzaldo tells People. The former WWE star - who Anzaldo found unresponsive in her Redondo Beach, California apartment a week ago - was eight months into filming a documentary called The Reconstruction of Chyna that would have culminated with her back in the ring this coming fall, Anzaldo says. "The goal was she has to go in gets her health, she triumphs, she wins," he says. "That was going to be her Rocky ending to this amazing documentary.
- 4/28/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
Chyna was planning a triumphant return to wrestling before she died in of apparent overdose last week, manager and longtime friend Anthony Anzaldo tells People. The former WWE star - who Anzaldo found unresponsive in her Redondo Beach, California apartment a week ago - was eight months into filming a documentary called The Reconstruction of Chyna that would have culminated with her back in the ring this coming fall, Anzaldo says. "The goal was she has to go in gets her health, she triumphs, she wins," he says. "That was going to be her Rocky ending to this amazing documentary.
- 4/28/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
Chyna’s brain will be donated to science for the study of CTE following the former WWE Superstar’s death on Thursday. The 45-year-old wrestler’s manager Anthony Anzaldo said Dr. Bennet Omalu reached out following Chyna’s death after having previously spoken to the wrestler about studying the effects of her career on her body. Anzaldo said he’s in the process of getting permission from her family. “When she died, they called me again and asked, ‘Can we have her brain,'” Anzaldo told the New York Daily News. “My hope is that we can do it.” Also...
- 4/23/2016
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Will Smith has joined his wife Jada Pinkett Smith in boycotting the 2016 Academy Awards because he would feel "uncomfortable" at the ceremony due to the lack of diversity.
The 47-year-old actor was hotly tipped to receive a nod for a best actor Academy Award thanks to his role as Dr. Bennet Omalu in drama movie Concussion, but when the nominations were announced last Thursday (January 14) many were left shocked that no black stars featured in any of the lead categories.
Will's wife Jada announced she would not attend or watch the show on 28 February (16) in protest, and Will, who was out of the country when she made her video declaration, will also boycott the ceremony because he believes the nominations reflect a greater problem in the U.S.
He tells U.S. TV show Good Morning America, "I think that I have to protect and fight for the ideals that...
The 47-year-old actor was hotly tipped to receive a nod for a best actor Academy Award thanks to his role as Dr. Bennet Omalu in drama movie Concussion, but when the nominations were announced last Thursday (January 14) many were left shocked that no black stars featured in any of the lead categories.
Will's wife Jada announced she would not attend or watch the show on 28 February (16) in protest, and Will, who was out of the country when she made her video declaration, will also boycott the ceremony because he believes the nominations reflect a greater problem in the U.S.
He tells U.S. TV show Good Morning America, "I think that I have to protect and fight for the ideals that...
- 1/21/2016
- GossipCenter
In a shrewd marketing ploy, a couple of weeks ago Sony bought ad time during the Thanksgiving NFL games and aired promos for the Will Smith-starring drama “Concussion,” a film in which the league isn’t exactly painted in the best light. With both the regular football season coming to a close and the awards race heating up this month, Sony has turned up their marketing blitz in an effort to get noticed during the busy holiday release schedule. Four new spots have been released for the Peter Landesman written-and-directed film which follows the true-life story of the Nigerian-born forensic pathologist, Dr. Bennet Omalu, who fought to legitimize and publicize the chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or Cte, suffered by football players against the efforts by the NFL to suppress his research. There is no doubt that the source material is rich and controversial, but whether the film will catch on...
- 12/7/2015
- by Cain Rodriguez
- The Playlist
Two Oscar contenders, "Straight Outta Compton" and "Creed" each won three awards from the African-American Film Critics Association on Monday. The summer sensation "Straight Outta Compton," which chronicles the rise of the rap group N.W.A., won Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Jason Mitchell) and Ensemble. And "Creed," the reboot of the "Rocky" franchise which is wowing at the box office, won Best Director (Ryan Coogler), Supporting Actress (Tessa Thompson) and Breakout Performance (Michael B. Jordan). -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions Will Smith won Best Actor for his riveting portayal of real-life trailblazer Bennet Omalu, the doctor who discovers the brain diseasechronic traumatic encephalopathy (Cte) that affects NFL players, in "Concussion." Teyonah Parris was named Best Actress for her work in Spike Lee's new mov...'...
- 12/7/2015
- Gold Derby
By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
Earlier this year, when the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards were announced, the lack of diversity in the four major acting categories prompted the #Oscarssowhite hashtag to go viral on social media in response to each of the 20 nominated actors being Caucasian.
This awards season may not offer any more of a diverse roster, with only a handful of Oscar contenders being people of color. Even big name contenders, such as Will Smith, who plays real-life Nigerian pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu who took on the NFL in regards to concussion-related health issues in Concussion, Samuel L. Jackson, who stars in director Quentin Tarantino’s latest film about a group of bounty hunters caught in a blizzard during the post-Civil War era in The Hateful 8, and Idris Elba, whose portrayal of an African warlord in director Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation earned him...
Managing Editor
Earlier this year, when the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards were announced, the lack of diversity in the four major acting categories prompted the #Oscarssowhite hashtag to go viral on social media in response to each of the 20 nominated actors being Caucasian.
This awards season may not offer any more of a diverse roster, with only a handful of Oscar contenders being people of color. Even big name contenders, such as Will Smith, who plays real-life Nigerian pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu who took on the NFL in regards to concussion-related health issues in Concussion, Samuel L. Jackson, who stars in director Quentin Tarantino’s latest film about a group of bounty hunters caught in a blizzard during the post-Civil War era in The Hateful 8, and Idris Elba, whose portrayal of an African warlord in director Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation earned him...
- 12/7/2015
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
There are all kinds of reasons why people strive to be famous. Some crave attention, others want money, and some folks just want to be on the damn television. In the case of Will Smith, one of the biggest stars on the planet, this desire springs from an unlikely source, a bad relationship when he was just a teenager. Talking about his upcoming head trauma drama, Concussion, with Sicario’s Benicio del Toro for Variety’s "Actors on Actors" series, Smith discussed the desire of his character, real life Nigerian doctor Bennet Omalu, to come to America. It was this overwhelming yearning that drove him, and the actor brought up the driving factor behind his own career, though they’re very different origins. He said: When I was 15, my girlfriend cheated on me. And from that moment, in this bizarre psychological twist, I wanted to ...
- 12/3/2015
- cinemablend.com
The new film Concussion is not only a timely drama about the discovery and effect of brain trauma that has led to the death of numerous football players, but it’s also a touching and important movie that puts a human face on immigration — in this case one very special man named Dr. Bennet Omalu. He is the Nigerian who as a top forensics pathologist discovered and revealed what is now known as Cte (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which can only be diagnosed after death…...
- 12/2/2015
- Deadline
Without question one of the more controversial films being released this holiday season will be Sony’s Christmas Day release Concussion, which stars Will Smith in the true story of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian immigrant who uncovered Cte, the brain trauma that can be caused by direct contact in football games. The film pulls no punches and certainly puts the NFL on the hot seat. During Deadline’s big awards-season event The Contenders Presented By Deadline last month at…...
- 12/1/2015
- Deadline
By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
Touting a big name star and a timely story, Concussion, the Will Smith-led sports drama about Dr. Bennet Omalu‘s discovery of brain damage in NFL players, will likely find a large audience when it debuts in theaters this Christmas. While the critics’ consensus is that the film is far from the year’s best (it currently sits with a 60% rating on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes) it may likely resonate with the wider public due to its touching story and Smith’s strong performance, and they may make the film a sneaky possibility for a best picture nomination.
Few believed that the similarly-themed football drama, The Blind Side, would achieve that feat back in 2010, yet the newly expanded roster of best pic candidates (which went from five eligible films to 10 on a decision reached in June, 2009) meant that The Blind Side had an...
Managing Editor
Touting a big name star and a timely story, Concussion, the Will Smith-led sports drama about Dr. Bennet Omalu‘s discovery of brain damage in NFL players, will likely find a large audience when it debuts in theaters this Christmas. While the critics’ consensus is that the film is far from the year’s best (it currently sits with a 60% rating on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes) it may likely resonate with the wider public due to its touching story and Smith’s strong performance, and they may make the film a sneaky possibility for a best picture nomination.
Few believed that the similarly-themed football drama, The Blind Side, would achieve that feat back in 2010, yet the newly expanded roster of best pic candidates (which went from five eligible films to 10 on a decision reached in June, 2009) meant that The Blind Side had an...
- 12/1/2015
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
Krampus – December 4
Director: Michael Dougherty
Stars: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner
Synopsis: A boy who has a bad Christmas ends up accidentally summoning a Christmas demon to his family home.
Analysis: Are we going to laugh and be scared? I’m fine with that, I enjoyed Gremlins. When you have the comedic talents of David Koechner and Adam Scott in your movie, you best make good use of them. This should make for an enjoyable holiday movie; by the looks of things it might be the only one opening this month. What happened for Christmas movies guys?
In the Heart of the Sea – December 11
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson
Synopsis: Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.
Analysis: It’s been over 10 years since I...
Director: Michael Dougherty
Stars: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner
Synopsis: A boy who has a bad Christmas ends up accidentally summoning a Christmas demon to his family home.
Analysis: Are we going to laugh and be scared? I’m fine with that, I enjoyed Gremlins. When you have the comedic talents of David Koechner and Adam Scott in your movie, you best make good use of them. This should make for an enjoyable holiday movie; by the looks of things it might be the only one opening this month. What happened for Christmas movies guys?
In the Heart of the Sea – December 11
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson
Synopsis: Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.
Analysis: It’s been over 10 years since I...
- 11/30/2015
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
"Concussion," a biopic starring Will Smith as Bennet Omalu, the doctor who discovers the brain diseasechronic traumatic encephalopathy (Cte) that affects NFL players, doesn't debut till Christmas. But this week the subject matter made the headlines twice. In last Sunday's game between the St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens, Rams quarterback Case Keenum continued to play even after he was sacked and his head hit the field; he went on to throw two incompletes and stumbled with a fumble and his team lost 16-13. And on Wednesday, the family of late gridiron legend Frank Gifford announced that an autopsy revealed he was afflicted with Cte. -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts' Latest Oscar Predictions "Concussion" writer/director Peter Landesman ("Parkland") adapted the 2009 GQ article, "Game Brain" by Jeanne Marie Laskas, which first brought this heartbreaking subject...'...
- 11/27/2015
- Gold Derby
Former New York Giants star and NFL broadcaster Frank Gifford suffered from a concussion-related brain disease, his family revealed Wednesday.
Gifford, who died of natural causes in August at age 84, suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as Cte, his family discovered after making the decision to have his brain studied after his death.
"We decided to disclose our loved one's condition to honor Frank's legacy of promoting player safety dating back to his involvement in the formation of the NFL Players Association in the 1950s," the Gifford family said in a statement to People Wednesday. "His entire adult life...
Gifford, who died of natural causes in August at age 84, suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as Cte, his family discovered after making the decision to have his brain studied after his death.
"We decided to disclose our loved one's condition to honor Frank's legacy of promoting player safety dating back to his involvement in the formation of the NFL Players Association in the 1950s," the Gifford family said in a statement to People Wednesday. "His entire adult life...
- 11/25/2015
- by Aaron Couch, @AaronCouch
- People.com - TV Watch
Global superstar (and this week’s Backstage cover subject) Will Smith sat this week for his first-ever podcast interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter,” in which he discussed his latest awards-caliber gig, “Concussion”—but he also had some surprising news up his sleeve. “As I look at the political landscape, I think that there might be a future out there for me,” Smith said. “They might need me out there. This is the first year that I’ve been incensed to a level that I can’t sleep, you know? So I’m feeling that at some point, in the near future, I will have to lend my voice to the conversation in a somewhat different way.” The turn in conversation was sparked while discussing his and the real-life Dr. Bennet Omalu’s, whom he portrays in the film, shared love for America. Omalu is a firm believer in the American dream,...
- 11/25/2015
- backstage.com
Will Smith has already conquered Hollywood. Washington, D.C. might be next.
On the Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Smith talked about how the character he plays in his upcoming movie "Concussion" made a real difference in the world. Dr. Bennet Omalu took on the National Football League for covering up concerns that concussions could have long-term negative effects on players. And Smith wants to do make a difference, too — perhaps by getting into politics.
"I think that that's what my grandmother always hoped, that I would make myself useful to people in this lifetime," he said, adding, "And, you know, as I look at the political landscape, I think that there might be a future out there for me. They might need me out there. This is the first year that I've been incensed to a level that I can't sleep, you know?"
Years ago, Smith joked about wanting...
On the Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Smith talked about how the character he plays in his upcoming movie "Concussion" made a real difference in the world. Dr. Bennet Omalu took on the National Football League for covering up concerns that concussions could have long-term negative effects on players. And Smith wants to do make a difference, too — perhaps by getting into politics.
"I think that that's what my grandmother always hoped, that I would make myself useful to people in this lifetime," he said, adding, "And, you know, as I look at the political landscape, I think that there might be a future out there for me. They might need me out there. This is the first year that I've been incensed to a level that I can't sleep, you know?"
Years ago, Smith joked about wanting...
- 11/25/2015
- by Kelly Woo
- Moviefone
Will Smith has been busy promoting his new movie Concussion before its release on Christmas Day. He's premiered the film on both coasts with the support of family and friends, and he took a break to perform on stage at the Latin Grammys. Will gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter this week to talk up the movie and its award season buzz, especially for his performance as Nigerian-born forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu. During the podcast chat, Will opened up about his dedication to achieving goals and revealed future plans to get involved in politics. He said: "I'm a climber, so if I see a mountain, I have to climb it. I'm not a camper; I don't like hanging in one place too long. So I think, at this point, I'm elevating my ability to be useful in the world. I think that that's what my grandmother always hoped, that...
- 11/25/2015
- by Brittney Stephens
- Popsugar.com
Will Smith was all smiles for the Los Angeles premiere of Concussion alongside his wife Jada Pinket Smith. The glamorous Hollywood couple looked ravishing with their guests Vivica A. Fox and Smith's Bad Boys' co-star Martin Lawrence. Based on the true story of Dr. Bennet Omalu's fight with the NFL in bringing to light that pro players may suffer from serious football-related brain trauma, the forensic neuropathologist was also present at the Concussion premiere. Take a look at the photos.
- 11/25/2015
- by info@cinemovie.tv (Super User)
- CineMovie
Amid all of the controversy that the football drama “Concussion” is stirring up, Will Smith says he was conflicted over playing the role of Bennet Omalu in the film. “As an actor, you live for that type of delicious peculiarity,” Smith told GQ. “He is such a unique being. As an actor, I was excited. But as a lover of football, I was conflicted. I was almost called to be an activist against myself.” In “Concussion,” Smith plays Omalu, a young forensic neuropathologist form Nigeria who made the first discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (Cte), a football-related brain trauma, in a pro football.
- 11/24/2015
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
This year’s Oscar hopefuls boasts the largest roster of biopics in recent memory. From more traditional, straight-forward affairs such as Straight Outta Compton and Black Mass, to films that focus on one particular real-life event such as The Big Short and Spotlight, to less typical takes focused on separate periods in the subjects’ lives such as Steve Jobs and Love & Mercy, this year’s films cover the entire spectrum of the biopic genre.
As a result, many of the frontrunners in the four major acting categories are for performances portraying real-life people. Looking back on the Academy’s history, it is hard to find a year in which an acting award did not go to a performer portraying a real person. Eddie Redmayne, Matthew McConaughey, and Daniel Day-Lewis (the last three best actor winners) all starred in biographical films.
This year the trend looks to continue,...
Managing Editor
This year’s Oscar hopefuls boasts the largest roster of biopics in recent memory. From more traditional, straight-forward affairs such as Straight Outta Compton and Black Mass, to films that focus on one particular real-life event such as The Big Short and Spotlight, to less typical takes focused on separate periods in the subjects’ lives such as Steve Jobs and Love & Mercy, this year’s films cover the entire spectrum of the biopic genre.
As a result, many of the frontrunners in the four major acting categories are for performances portraying real-life people. Looking back on the Academy’s history, it is hard to find a year in which an acting award did not go to a performer portraying a real person. Eddie Redmayne, Matthew McConaughey, and Daniel Day-Lewis (the last three best actor winners) all starred in biographical films.
This year the trend looks to continue,...
- 11/23/2015
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
Though it will rightfully garner some attention for Will Smith's impressive lead performance, Concussion is a largely flat procedural about the discovery of Cte, the disease caused by the sort of repeated head trauma regularly experienced by NFL players. It's clear writer/director Peter Landesman is passionate about the subject, but this poorly paced and meandering drama seems as if he set out to make a conspiracy thriller and forgot all about the "thriller" aspect. Not as revelatory as Michael Mann's The Insider, which pitted a different small-time David against a multi-billion dollar Goliath, Concussion covers a necessary and vital topic but never quite coalesces into the kind of Important Movie to which it aspires.
In 2002, Bennet Omalu (Will Smith), a doctor with a staggering number of medical degrees and an odd pre-autopsy habit of talking to cadavers as if they're still alive, performs an autopsy on former...
In 2002, Bennet Omalu (Will Smith), a doctor with a staggering number of medical degrees and an odd pre-autopsy habit of talking to cadavers as if they're still alive, performs an autopsy on former...
- 11/19/2015
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Sony Pictures has released a new international trailer for "Concussion," the upcoming football drama stars Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, Paul Reiser, David Morse and Albert Brooks
The film is based on the David vs. Goliath journey of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of football-related brain trauma in a pro player and fought to bring awareness to the public. In his search for the truth behind the devastating malady, Omalu’s quest humanizes the price paid by professional athletes in impact sports but also by people who challenge the status quo as it exposes the political, cultural and corporate interests that fuel the business of sports.
"Concussion" will be in theaters on Christmas Day.
Have a look at the trailer below.
Kellvin Chavez Rt @LRNews: Watch Harrison Ford Surprise 'Star Wars' Fans for a Great Charity Initiative https://t.
The film is based on the David vs. Goliath journey of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of football-related brain trauma in a pro player and fought to bring awareness to the public. In his search for the truth behind the devastating malady, Omalu’s quest humanizes the price paid by professional athletes in impact sports but also by people who challenge the status quo as it exposes the political, cultural and corporate interests that fuel the business of sports.
"Concussion" will be in theaters on Christmas Day.
Have a look at the trailer below.
Kellvin Chavez Rt @LRNews: Watch Harrison Ford Surprise 'Star Wars' Fans for a Great Charity Initiative https://t.
- 11/18/2015
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
Earlier this year, when the nominations for the 87th Annual Academy Awards were announced with every actor in contention being Caucasian, the hashtag #Oscarssowhite began trending on Twitter with fans reacting to the lack of diversity in acting categories (the year before, however, had a person of color nominated in every major acting category except best actress and the past two best directors, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón, are Mexican).
This year’s race is not shaping up to be that much more diverse than its predecessor, with almost none of the acting frontrunners being people of color. The strongest contender at the moment seems to be Will Smith, who has earned two nominations in his career for playing real-life figures (best actor as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in 2001’s Ali, best actor as struggling father Chris Gardner in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness...
Managing Editor
Earlier this year, when the nominations for the 87th Annual Academy Awards were announced with every actor in contention being Caucasian, the hashtag #Oscarssowhite began trending on Twitter with fans reacting to the lack of diversity in acting categories (the year before, however, had a person of color nominated in every major acting category except best actress and the past two best directors, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón, are Mexican).
This year’s race is not shaping up to be that much more diverse than its predecessor, with almost none of the acting frontrunners being people of color. The strongest contender at the moment seems to be Will Smith, who has earned two nominations in his career for playing real-life figures (best actor as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in 2001’s Ali, best actor as struggling father Chris Gardner in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness...
- 11/17/2015
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
It'll be interesting to see how much longer the NFL can stay silent, because in just over a month, in theaters nationwide, an awards season movie, led by A-list star Will Smith, will shine an ugly light on America's favorite pasttime. "Concussion" will take the helmet off the issue, and the new international trailer for the drama has landed. Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Albert Brooks, Luke Wilson, Paul Reiser, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and David Morse round out the supporting players in the movie about the research of Dr. Bennet Omalu that revealed the devastating effect that continues head-to-head blows have on the brain, and of course, on football players who gear up every Sunday to run into each other for hours on end. Our review cited the film's "lack of pace and illuminating insight" as some of the flaws though the performances are compelling, with Smith already earning Oscar talk. Read...
- 11/17/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The new film Concussion centers on the real life expose of NFL head trauma, a condition so common and infuriating that it's surprising the information took as long as it did to leak to the public. It's an important subject that demands considerable attention yet director Peter Landesman only manages a serviceable film. Instead of being the NFL version of The Insider or All the President's Men, we get a version of the story that covers most of the bases but without any real depth or insight. Yet as it stands this lightweight indictment of the NFL is still enough to make audiences think twice before watching one of their favorite sports. Will Smith leads the cast of Concussion as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian pathologist working in Pittsburgh and completely oblivious to football. When former Steelers hero Mike Webster (played by David Morse) turns up on his dissection table...
- 11/17/2015
- by Marco Cerritos
- firstshowing.net
Six years ago, Jeanne Marie Laskas’ GQ exposé Game Brain flew in the face of tradition when it drew a line under the health concerns of playing in the über-popular NFL league. Shedding light on the research of the brilliant, yet rather odd Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian caused all manner of controversy when he connected the rise in Cte (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) cases with the strenuous nature of the sport.
Eager to raise awareness to the public, the forensic neuropathologist faced an uphill battle from the very beginning, with the powerful players of the National Football League – off the pitch, that is – rubbishing his breakthrough research. In what went down as a defining moment in the NFL’s history will soon underpin Sony Pictures’ awards hopeful, Concussion.
Assuming the role of Omalu is Suicide Squad alum Will Smith. Sporting his very best Nigerian accent, today’s new footage offers...
Eager to raise awareness to the public, the forensic neuropathologist faced an uphill battle from the very beginning, with the powerful players of the National Football League – off the pitch, that is – rubbishing his breakthrough research. In what went down as a defining moment in the NFL’s history will soon underpin Sony Pictures’ awards hopeful, Concussion.
Assuming the role of Omalu is Suicide Squad alum Will Smith. Sporting his very best Nigerian accent, today’s new footage offers...
- 11/17/2015
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
While much of the talk about “Concussion” has been about Will Smith’s stand-out performance as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist who first discovered the football-related brain injury Cte, equal attention should be paid to Albert Brooks’ turn as Omalu’s friend and mentor, Dr. Cyril Wecht. The beloved funnyman, who shaved his head for the role, could reap his second Oscar bid almost three decades after contending for "Broadcast News." -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions Yes, Brooks does land some big laughs in “Concussion.” But he also has a chance to score with some great dramatic moments opposite Smith. And he has several juicy scenes to chew on that display his signature quick wit, such as when the FBI raids his office in an attempt to dissuade Omalu from proceeding further with his claims against the NFL. ...
- 11/16/2015
- Gold Derby
Plot: Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a brilliant forensic neuropathologist who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (Cte), a serious condition that lead to the death of professional football players. Review: There is no question that football can be a tough game. The players take on challenging plays and put their bodies at risk on a daily basis. Of course, there is a whole lot of money that is... Read More...
- 11/13/2015
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
There was a weird and wonderful symmetry last night watching Will Smith talk about his starring role as Dr Bennet Omalu in Concussion in front of the real man and thinking of the character we'd just seen onscreen. It was not the easy symmetry of mimicry, but of spirit. Both men are legends of their respective fields, if you will, and that's the last time we'll compare forensic pathology and movie stardom! More curiously neither man seemed willing to admit that the night's festivities were about him. Will Smith was especially humble about his performance and starstruck by the real man, admitting after Dr Omalu burst out laughing during the Q&A that followed the premiere, that he loved that laugh but couldn't manage to perfect it for the movie. Dr Omalu, in the movie and on stage kept saying that the story wasn't about him but about the science.
- 11/12/2015
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
"Concussion," a biopic starring Will Smith as Bennet Omalu, the doctor who discovers a brain disease affecting NFL players, premiered at the AFI Fest on Wednesday and established itself as a red-hot Oscar contender. In this film by writer/director Peter Landesman ("Parkland"), this Hollywood superstar gives one of the best performances of his career. And while he currently has odds of just 50-to-1 to win Best Actor according to our Oscar experts, expect his stock to rise in the coming weeks as more of them see his riveting performance prior to Columbia releasing the picture on Christmas. -Break- Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Revenant': Will he finally win Oscar after 5 losses? In both trade reviews, Smith's performance was singled out. Variety critic Andrew Barker says he delivers a "fine, understated performance" and that he "nails the accent without ever callin..."'...
- 11/11/2015
- Gold Derby
By Scott Feinberg
The Hollywood Reporter
Will Smith is poised to return to the Oscars as a nominee for the first time in nearly a decade — and, in a year without a clear frontrunner, he could even take home the prize.
That much was confirmed on Tuesday night at the Tcl Chinese Theatre, where Smith’s latest star-vehicle, Peter Landesman‘s Concussion, had its world premiere. The drama chronicles the uphill efforts of Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born/Pittsburgh-based medical examiner who came to the conclusion that ex-nfl players were dying because of head traumas they suffered during their playing days. It was received very warmly by an industry crowd — many of whom said the accusations that the film had caved to the NFL (by reportedly showing the film to league officials and then making some cuts) were overblown, as the league still takes a major beating from the film.
The Hollywood Reporter
Will Smith is poised to return to the Oscars as a nominee for the first time in nearly a decade — and, in a year without a clear frontrunner, he could even take home the prize.
That much was confirmed on Tuesday night at the Tcl Chinese Theatre, where Smith’s latest star-vehicle, Peter Landesman‘s Concussion, had its world premiere. The drama chronicles the uphill efforts of Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born/Pittsburgh-based medical examiner who came to the conclusion that ex-nfl players were dying because of head traumas they suffered during their playing days. It was received very warmly by an industry crowd — many of whom said the accusations that the film had caved to the NFL (by reportedly showing the film to league officials and then making some cuts) were overblown, as the league still takes a major beating from the film.
- 11/11/2015
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
Previously rumored as neutered by the very group it’s critiquing, fear not: “Concussion” actually retains the startling truths about the effects of brain trauma in the NFL. If your first question is, “What startling truths?” then permit the film — dutifully written and directed by Peter Landesman and featuring stellar work by Will Smith — to elaborate. But ultimately it’s the struggle to couch those facts in a satisfying arc that hobbles the piece; it’s the difference between a well-acted vehicle for awareness, rather than the alert and pointed scientific drama toward which it aims. The one to lead us through these breakthroughs is Bennet Omalu (played by Smith), a Nigerian-born forensic pathologist in Pittsburgh who, in 2002, first noticed abnormalities in the brains of professional football players. Deeply religious, wedded to the American Dream, and devoted to the “science of death,” he immerses himself in his work, speaking to...
- 11/11/2015
- by Charlie Schmidlin
- The Playlist
There are few institutions more Goliathan than the NFL, but that doesn’t make the underdog story in “Concussion” any more compelling. The tale of one doctor’s crusade to tell the truth about the devastating consequences of chronic head injuries among football players is timely but dreary and dramatically inept. In fact, the film is pure Oscar bait, complete with a cornball monologue delivered by star Will Smith about what makes America great. Playing David to the NFL’s Goliath is Smith’s Dr. Bennet Omalu. In lieu of a slingshot, the Pittsburgh coroner’s weapon of choice is a half-dozen post-graduate degrees,...
- 11/11/2015
- by Inkoo Kang
- The Wrap
With earnest biopic "Concussion," investigative journalist-turned-writer-director Peter Landesman ("Parkland") constructs a strong argument against the NFL's callous dishonesty about the dangers of football. (Clearly a flurry of stories suggesting the opposite were not based on seeing the film.) Will Smith is moving and believable as brilliant and obsessive Nigerian neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered the concussion-related disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (Cte), which has driven many pro football players out of their minds. Dr. Omalu's reward: to be professionally destroyed and forced out of Pittsburgh by the mighty NFL. Like Boston-set journalism movie "Spotlight," it took a truth-seeking outsider who didn't know the rules of the game to root out a systemic problem that desperately needs fixing. But "Spotlight" writer-director Tom McCarthy is far more adept at turning that process into riveting cinema. The crowd...
- 11/11/2015
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Will Smith, Albert Brooks and Paul Reiser were among the starting lineup of stars at the “Concussion” premiere Tuesday night in Hollywood during AFI Fest 2015. The premiere shut down Hollywood Blvd. outside the Tcl Chinese Theatre, to accommodate the stars of Columbia Pictures’ highly-anticipated film, their celebrity guests and the crush of media. The controversial sports drama tells the story of Dr. Bennet Omalu (Smith), who was the first person to diagnose NFL players with Cte, a brain condition that results from repeated head trauma. His discovery puts him at odds with the NFL, which wanted to keep Omalu’s research out of the public.
- 11/11/2015
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
It seems as though Will Smith - much like his lovely wife, Jada - has yet to begin the aging process. The actor hit the red carpet for the premiere of his new film Concussion during AFI Fest in La on Tuesday, and we couldn't ignore the fact that he looks pretty much exactly the same as when he first won our hearts on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air over 25 years ago. Will posed for photos with a few of his costars, Mike O'Malley, Paul Reiser, and Albert Brooks, as well as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neurologist he portrays in the film. Will made a return to the red carpet at the Hollywood Film Awards last week, where he mingled with other stars like Johnny Depp, Reese Witherspoon, and Jamie Foxx. We'll likely get to see more of him as he gears up to promote Concussion before its release on Christmas Day.
- 11/11/2015
- by Brittney Stephens
- Popsugar.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.