Concussion (2015)

Things have definitely changed as far as what is allowed in the National Football League and what is not allowed today as compared to the time when I played football as an young adolescent. When we were out in the football field, it was like we were being trained to be battering rams not knowing the long terms effects that it would have on us. That is why I decided to check out the 2015 film Concussion which was written and directed by Peter Landesman (Parkland). The film stars Will Smith (Bad Boys For Life) as Dr. Bennet Omalu, an accomplished pathologist who discovered a serious condition known as CTE when football players began killing themselves. This is the film about his journey and the long hard road he took to change the culture of football in America. The film also stars Alec Baldwin (Fun With Dick And Jane) as Dr. Julian Bailes, Albert Brooks (Drive) as Dr. Cyril Wecht, Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beyond The Lights) as Prema Mutiso, David Morse (The Green Mile) as Mike Webster, Arliss Howard (Full Metal Jacket) as Dr. Joseph Maroon, Mike O'Malley (Sully) as Daniel, Eddie Marsan (Vice) as Dr. Steve DeKosky, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Suicide Squad) as Dave Duerson, Luke Wilson (Zombieland: Double Tap) as Roger Goodell, Paul Reiser (Horse Girl) as Dr. Elliot Pellman, and Richard T. Jones (Vantage Point) as Andre Waters. 

The lesson to be learned from this film is that you never mess with science because science proves whether things are wrong or right. There is never usually a question of doubt and the NFL dropped the ball big time when it came to the discovery of CTE as they tried to bury this doctor who discovered it. It's quite shocking to the extent to make sure this guy was never heard or taken serious. He was literally public enemy one who just wanted the NFL to take precautions which they obviously would years later after the senate was on their case. The story was obviously one we have seen before in cinema when the little man takes on the giant corporation and he somehow defeats him like the story of David vs Goliath. It's a classic tale that you could literally compare so many stories to, but this one is heavy because head trauma is a scary thing. I definitely enjoyed Will Smith's acting in this film as he was the star of the show, but I have admit that I did not that was David Morse playing Mike Webster in the film. I did not recognize him at all and that is credit to the make up department. This is definitely a film to check out if you are a fan of films that are based on true stories, a fan of science, and a fan of the NFL which never ceases to amaze me. One thing that I will criticize is that I did not like Luke Wilson as the choice for Roger Goodell. Other than that, I enjoyed it and it's free right now on Tubi so chek it out. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade. 

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

There have been so many iconic duos in Hollywood since it's inception from Laurel and Hardy, Batman & Robin, Starsky & Hutch, but the most iconic duo of the 1990's besides Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg was Will Smith and Martin Lawrence who in 1995 starred together in Bad Boys as Mike Lowery and Marcus Bennett. In 2003, they made a comeback as the duo once again in Bad Boys II, but 25 years after the first film they are back in Bad Boys For Life. This time around, Mike is shot by a mysterious thug on a motorcycle who is carrying a vendetta from a former cartel boss. Six months later, Mike is back at it again as he vows to find the people that did this to him, but he won't be alone in this fight even though things have drastically changed for them in the 21st century. The film also stars Kate del Castillo (The Book Of Life) as Isabel Aretas, Alexander Ludwig (Lone Survivor) as Dorn, Joe Pantoliano (The Fugitive) as Captain Howard, Vanessa Hudgens (Spring Breakers) as Kelly, Paola Nuñez (The Purge) as Rita, Charles Melton (Riverdale) as Rafe, Nicky Jam (xXx: The REturn Of Xander Cage) as Zway Lo, and the film was directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Black).

SPOILER ALERT: This paragraph will contain spoilers so proceed with caution. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed watching this film. I have seen several directors take franchises that didn’t have a proper sequel or a sequel at all and they just can’t hit the nail on the head (e.g. Dumb and Dumber & Zoolander). Some directors and studios will just take way too much time and the jokes are just not that funny as they were, but there is something about Will Smith and Martin Lawrence that make them the exception to the rule. These are actually two of the funniest individuals when they are paired together on the silver screen. If I could compare it to something, it would be like trying on those old pair of jeans and you are pleasantly surprised to see them fit again, but they didn’t do this alone. It was the whole collection of the cast and the writing that made it work for the duo as everyone did they jobs and supported the main characters. I love how they sort of hopped on the fact that maybe they are too old for this game, but one is too stubborn to let go and so he clashes with the new gen along the way before he admits that he needs them too. I loved some of the nostalgia that was put in like we see Reggie (Dennis Greene) and Meghan (Bianca Bethune) back in the film. It definitely helps provide some great laughs for the film, but the action in this film is worth talking about because it’s definitely worthy of being in the same company with the previous films. The only thing I didn’t like was the whole tried and true hey I’m your dad Angle that we’ve seen way too many times in the past between Will Smith and Jacob Scipio (he plays Armando Armas) who is trying to kill him. They definitely left the film open to a sequel, but if they can’t do that one right then why bother at all. At least with this one, they did it right which is why I am giving it an A- for a final grade.