Starring: Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Albert Brooks
Directed by: Peter Landesman (“Parkland”)
Written by: Peter Landesman (“Parkland”)
It’s been seven years since actor Will Smith has taken on a full-fledged dramatic role. Although his last, 2008’s “Seven Pounds,” was a complete misfire, Smith has proven in past films like “The Pursuit of Happyness” and “Ali” that he is more than capable of carrying the weight. He reiterates his talent with a genuine performance as real-life forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, who was the first person to uncover the alarming truth behind brain damage suffered by professional football players. Directed and written by Peter Landesman (“Parkland”), there is much to be desired when it comes to the emotional impact of the screenplay itself, but Smith brings out the best in this Hollywood-ized exposé on the NFL and is completely believable as the good doctor. Landesman, however, misses an opportunity to delve deeper into the football culture and explore why sports entertainment trumped science for so long.