6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A look at how American football players suffer from major head injuries and life-long debilitating problems as a result of repeated concussions and efforts by the National Football League to deny it.
Starring: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David MorseSport | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French (Canada): DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
God did not intend for us to play football.
Most living things are fragile. Some are more resilient than others, and while man may fall somewhere in the middle of the most hearty-hardly
hearty organism scale (completely unscientific placement), his brain power -- reason, logic, memory, discovery -- have allowed him to
cheat the system, to learn how to become stronger, more immune, and generally safer from the most common pitfalls to be found out there in the
wild.
Combine
that with his unique dexterity and he can build shelter, grow food, and take natural and manmade medicines. He's learned how to eat right, take
care
of his body, and live longer and stronger than ever before. Indeed, the human brain -- and the entire human body, for that matter -- is a
marvelous
thing, the thing that has allowed man to rise in the ranks to the top of the food chain and make his world a better place. Yet that human brain
remains a very fragile thing. For all its complex wonders, there's not a lot of cushioning around it. A blow to the head can be fatal, or it can cause
irreversible trauma. Protecting the head is paramount in nearly every activity that involves some form of risk, like riding a skateboard or a
motorcycle, working in construction, or playing sports, perhaps the most satisfying, yet potentially dangerous, of "friendly" human endeavors and
competition. That want, that almost innate need, to take risks for the sake of the goal seems a uniquely human
characteristic, much like all of the aforementioned gifts that have seen mankind improve his place in the world over the years. Football has long
recognized the need to protect the head, and the technology that does so has greatly improved over the years, from leather pads to the custom fitting gear of today that are the safest they've ever
been. But even that's not enough. Concussion tells the story of a doctor, a man completely distanced from the passion, propaganda, and
power that dominates in the National Football League, who challenged the status quo that head injuries were serious business and that the game
itself
was driving many of its players into an early grave.
"Tell me your story."
Concussion is, by its very nature, a rather unremarkable-looking movie. It's fairly cold and a little flat, but Sony's 1080p Blu-ray transfer is certainly faithful to Director Peter Landesman's and Cinematographer Salvatore Totino's intended appearance. Colors, as noted, can push rather cold, favoring a heavy blue-gray dominant appearance, but that said there's no shortage of otherwise impressive, albeit neutral, colorings. Blue surgical scrubs, Steelers yellow, exterior greens, and other little splashes stand tall throughout the movie. Detailing is very precise. The digitally sourced image is clean but never too terribly flat or unattractively smooth. Fine detail -- facial pores most notably in close-ups but also surgical masks and scrubs, high end suits, little odds and ends around medical facilities, offices, and homes -- is exceptional throughout. Black levels are deep and hold true for the duration. Skin tones appear natural. Very light noise lingers, but other anomalies are nowhere to be found. This is a top-class presentation from Sony.
Concussion features a good all-around DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The movie's sound design is inherently straightforward, mostly, with a few morsels of extracurricular details and music pushing into an otherwise dialogue intensive film, such as some of the "sounds in the head" that drive Justin Strzelczyk mad in one scene. Music enjoys expert smoothness, spacing, and definition. Instrumentals are infinitely clear and detailed. Club dance beats are energetic and naturally flow from the speakers, producing a quality sense of spatial immersion as well as a positive low end weight. Minor support details are nicely filling, particularly little bits around the city but also a few more natural details. Dialogue dominates the proceedings, and it's delivered with natural center placement, excellent definition, and flawless prioritization.
Concussion contains several extras, including an audio commentary track. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.
Concussion brings a serious discussion about sports and safety to the forefront. The medicine surrounding concussions is improving. The NFL is re-examining its concussion protocols. Other sports are taking the issue seriously. One can only wonder, though, whether it's all enough considering that athletes are getting faster and stronger by the season; do those incremental improvements in athletic ability offset incremental improvements in player safety? This is not an easy film to watch. What happens to the former players is harrowing, and just as disturbing is the larger world around the NFL that pushes back against Dr. Omalu's findings. The movie doesn't enjoy much of a traditional "entertainment" value but it's a very well done dramatized exposé and a must-see. Sony's Blu-ray release of Concussion features superb video and audio. A few good extras are included. Highly recommended.
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