Here are some photos of Will Smith at this weekend’s opening night of the Hollywood Film Awards. A lot of big-names are going to be coming out for the Hollywood Film Awards this week as Oscar season really begins to kick off and many actors want to get their films seen before more LA-centric audiences. With the endless discussion of who’s up and who’s down in the early Oscar races, Will Smith’s name has been strangely absent from most conversations. Which is weird, because his film looks really good, really timely, and like it has the potential to garner him another Oscar nomination (he was previously nominated for Ali). Here’s the trailer for Concussion, where Will plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, the neuropathologist who identified the dangers of multiple head traumas in football players.
Unlike The Revenant, which reads as an unaware boy-drama story all about men brooding and being violent in the woods, Concussion is purposefully about the men-only sport of football and the kind of toxic masculinity, boys-club cover-up and literal disease that comes out of it. Concussion is deliberately self-aware, and repetitive head-trauma in football players is a major issue that the NFL is still contending with today. Will Smith actually tried to dial down the “this is so controversial” aspect of the story, telling a media outlet:
“I don’t think it’s going to generate too much controversy (with the NFL). There will be a little difficulty in swallowing it, as it was for me. I’m a football dad, you know. You don’t want it to be true. I think that the science is really irrefutable and the story of Dr. Bennet Omalu is such a powerful story. I think that it will be difficult at first for some, but I don’t think that it’s going to be that big of an issue. It’s something that we have to accept.”
So, does anyone think that we’re going to be seeing more of Will Smith in the coming months? He has already been placed on some shortlists for Best Actor, but at this moment, the buzz is mostly about Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Fassbender. But Will is keeping his promotion on-point, repeatedly referencing the fact that his oldest son was a student football player AND that the story told in the movie is 100% accurate, that the NFL did try to shut down, discredit and destroy Dr. Omalu for his findings. Basically, I think the only thing that could potentially hurt Will Smith’s Oscar chances are the rumors that Sony changed some aspects of the film at the NFL’s request.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
The NFL has become completely paranoid over just about everything lately – apparently, they know conduct sweeps of locker rooms for surveillance equipment now. They may just try to be pretending this movie doesn’t exist but if it garners attention (and doesn’t flop like every other film is doing) the league may start whining about it and trying to counter it. What does surprise me is that the NFLPA has been rather quiet about it.
I do think we’ll see Will Smith campaigning for a nomination.
Can you believe that back when Goodell first came on as Commissioner he was supposed to be all about restoring football’s good name?
Wasn’t it recently reported that no player had been in trouble for anything for the first time in like 90 thousand years?
What on earth are you talking about? Maybe no one had an active legal issue, but it isn’t as though the NFL has been crime free (or maybe you forgot about Ray Rice and Adrien Peterson, just to name 2). There are serious issues going on with the NFL right now, and Goodell most DEFINITELY plays a part in that.
In 2003, the NFL threatened to yank their football games from ESPN if they didn’t drop their “Playmakers” TV series (their first attempt at a fictional TV series) which was a truthful – and sometimes negative – look at the NFL and the players’ lives off the field.
Bill SImmons criticized Roger Goodell and got suspended multiple times for it (he isn’t at ESPN anymore). At ESPN, going into any in-depth criticism about the NFL is grounds for punishment.
Their Outside the Lines show did some solid reporting on the concussion issues, Ray Rice issues, etc. and for their “reward” got moved from their Sunday morning time slot where they got good ratings to early afternoon where the ratings have of course dropped.
There are also rumors that the NFL has watered down Concussion – instead of the whole NFL being blamed for not doing anything about concussions, they are going to pinpoint one or two individuals who were trying to hide the issue. Sony claims nothing like that happened, but we’ll see when the movie is released.
Thanks for reminding me Will that you got talent.
I am looking forward to this.
I wish the NFL would get its sh-t together. This is not okay and boo on Sony for changing the film. I hope Smith gets a nom.
Frankly I’m so annoyed that the oscars are that predictable we don’t even have to watch the movies to figure out who might be nominated. Also the Martian is an entertaining popcorn flick at best: I’m astounded it’s getting awards buzz for director or actor. Come on. But honestly I would both love to see Matt Damon win…if only for the look on Leo’s face. Now I want it to be a thing.
“if only for the look on Leo’s face.”
I am laughing so hard that I woke up the cat in the next room. Seriously, this could become a thing in which we get to compare the facial expressions of various actors who don’t hide their feelings when they lose. Like is Leo’s losing an Oscar to Matt Damon’s face funnier than Cumberbatch losing the Golden Globe to Redmayne face?
Lilac, nothing is funnier than Cumby’s look of utter shock when he lost the GG last year. That was PRICELESS.
I’m holding out hope that Keaton will get the Oscar that many expected him to get last year.
I think there is an agreement among the Spotlight cast that they’re all aiming for supporting. Although AMPAS can do what it wants
As the mother of an athlete (my son plays competitive travel baseball), I have no issues with this film. Injuries are an unfortunate and inevitable part of sports. Most athletes are well aware of the risks, particularly in football. I think it is great that awareness in being projected onto the public through a film that will most likely garner quite a bit of attention. I just hope viewers don’t misinterpret the message.
I wonder how this will do at the box office, seems like just about everything has flopped the past few weeks.
I think he’ll campaign for it, and will probably get a nomination.
The film looks good but not great. Will looks funny without facial hair. That’s all I got.
I’m waiting for Will’s scientology take on how these footballers can just “overcome” their brain injuries … that’s an interview I want to read.
Before I read that the “football dad’s” older son was the football player, I was thinking “Jaden plays football?”. Maybe he does, of course, but he doesn’t seem like a team sort of guy…
Based on his horrible generic African accent in the trailer, I’m going to say no.
Thank you. I watched the trailer and being Nigerian was put off by the accent. Recently watched beasts of no nation and was really impressed by Idris Elba. I think he should get some accent coaching from him.
My boyfriend played college ball and as a result has permanent depression and other mental issues derived from multiple concussions. He looked into this and told me this movie is quite watered down and that the producers consulted with the NFL. a pity.
I suggest you all watch League of Denial on Netflix if you want the real story. It’s quite disturbing.
So disturbing. And speaking of ESPN, they were collaborating with Frontline on the making of League of Denial, until just before it aired when the NFL threatened to pull ESPN’s football broadcasting rights if they remained involved. Of course, ESPN caved. Heaven forbid they stand up for the well being of the athletes they make their money off of.
Minus so many points for the accent. I love Will but his Nigerian accent needs serious work.