Concussion (1 Viewer)

[hotel3alpha]

All,

Will Smith is getting mo' better and certainly more believable in the roles he is accepting now a days. That too goes for his latest performance in "Concussion" that we checked out on Christmas Day. Now, I know that most of us are die hard football fans and do not want to see, hear or speak of anything that detriments the game. Its UN-American! However comma, there is some hard truth in that film and I got some friends who frankly told me they refuse to see it because they love football too much. They don't want to see the dark side of the game, the sad side, the human side or the reality of what the game can do to a man.

The film was not an indictment on the NFL, but an expose´ into a man who wanted to know why one man died of such horrible circumstances at the end of his life, when during his life he was hailed as a football legend. He used all of his education, experience, personal time and money to get to the truth and the truth he did uncover. He took his findings to respected University professors, collaborated and published his work. When he did he became a pariah to the football community for uncovering "quack" science and that is where I will leave my review of the movie.

The film does have a few slow parts, but it does allow us to get into the some of the inner workings of the both a Corners Office and the NFL. Likewise, it shows us life for players after the game and reveals some astonishing facts that were detailed in Dr. Bennet's work. It is a good film and it is good to see Will Smith in roles other than super hero's.

John from Texas

 

[zblang]

I saw it on Christmas as well. Very good movie and agreed, Will Smith has certainly come into his own as a great actor.

 

[hotel3alpha]

ZB,

Word on the street is that ZB has become a great actor in the courtroom too...like Oscar worthy! How the hell are you my friend!!! Cold up there?

John from Texas

 

[zblang]

Just got cold today. It's been so mild recently.
Played golf on Christmas eve in shorts! (67 degrees!)

 

[The Military Workshop]

Concussion not been on here yet. Question is did Will Smith deserve to be nominated for an Oscar for this role compared to ones nominated below ?

Nominees:
Bryan Cranston ("Trumbo")
Matt Damon ("The Martian")
Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Revenant")
Michael Fassbender ("Steve Jobs")
Eddie Redmayne ("The Danish Girl")

 

[nysoldiers]

Concussion not been on here yet. Question is did Will Smith deserve to be nominated for an Oscar for this role compared to ones nominated below ?

Nominees:
Bryan Cranston ("Trumbo")
Matt Damon ("The Martian")
Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Revenant")
Michael Fassbender ("Steve Jobs")
Eddie Redmayne ("The Danish Girl")

I have seen all these movies and while it might be a close call for some I agree with the picks for Oscar nominations.
Will Smith and Matt Damon could be a toss up but the others clearly had better performances in more challenging roles.
While there may be some politics and prejudices in the selection process I don't think there is a glaring oversight in this case.

 

[hotel3alpha]

I have seen all these movies and while it might be a close call for some I agree with the picks for Oscar nominations.
Will Smith and Matt Damon could be a toss up but the others clearly had better performances in more challenging roles.
While there may be some politics and prejudices in the selection process I don't think there is a glaring oversight in this case.

Gents,

I absolutely loathe the Oscars now. Two reasons: 1) The issue of Race pops up every year and frankly its my brothers (and sisters) from others mothers who are crying fowl. And it revolves around why black artists are not being recognized. Well, what about the rest of the artists who are brown, yellow pink or purple...tall, short, skinny or phat? It is not black centric problem. It is an industry problem, more so, an Academy problem that has just now been exposed! Yeah, just now! The diversity on the Academy membership is basically zero and all those who are crying fowl should have been lobbying and using their "star" power to be apart of the Academy. You can criticize the Academy if you have a proven record of trying to make change with in the Academy with no avail. But, you can't criticize the Academy when you only choose to apart of the recognition part of it and get mad when you don't get recognized. That's hypocritical. You HAVE to be involved for more than just money and fame. But, when you wait and don't like the results, cry fowl, and blame it on racism I believe you sully the Awards. Which leads me to point number #2.

2) The Current nominees all worked hard to earn an nomination through skill and talent. To be nominated is a major event and to have your performance or work in a film considered "less than or equal" to another film due to a "white out" is just de-flating. Especially if you are Alejandro Inarritu who has already won 3 Oscars and has been nominated 9 times (two of which are this year for The Revenant). The guy is a down town Charlie Brown from Mexico and is an extremely incredible director who has only been directing big movies since 2000. He certainly is not white, nor even 'Merican. Another example is Ang Lee, the Taiwanese-Chinese 'Merican who has won 3 (count them) 3 Oscars for directing movies since 2000 as well. I don't see Mr. Lee screaming fowl either. So, my point is that this demonstration or "white out" of the Academy kinda ruins it for the ones who are nominated. Does this issue need to be looked into? Sure, but not on the eve of the Awards. Those screaming fowl had all year to make noise, if not all their careers to "open up a dialogue"

Now, I understand that the raucous revolves around the Actor(s) category for both male and female leads and supporting. With that said, I have not seen all of the movies listed in the Awards. HOWEVER COMMA, I did see Concussion and it is my personal opinion that Will Smith should have got a nod of a Academy nomination. To me his performance superseded the Pursuit of Happyness role which I though was incredible. In Concussion he went further and deeper into a character that is a long way off of his usual "save the world" roles and I respect that. Plus, the story behind the movie is incredibly powerful. So, yes I was disappointed NOT to see him nominated for Best Actor. Would he have won against Leo in The Revenant? Probably not, because the Academy Award goes to...

Lastly, MAD MAX as a nominee for Best Picture? You have got to be kidding me...

John from Texas

PS: I have yet to watch "Beast of No Nation".

 

[The Military Workshop]

Gents,

I absolutely loathe the Oscars now. Two reasons: 1) The issue of Race pops up every year and frankly its my brothers (and sisters) from others mothers who are crying fowl. And it revolves around why black artists are not being recognized. Well, what about the rest of the artists who are brown, yellow pink or purple...tall, short, skinny or phat? It is not black centric problem. It is an industry problem, more so, an Academy problem that has just now been exposed! Yeah, just now! The diversity on the Academy membership is basically zero and all those who are crying fowl should have been lobbying and using their "star" power to be apart of the Academy. You can criticize the Academy if you have a proven record of trying to make change with in the Academy with no avail. But, you can't criticize the Academy when you only choose to apart of the recognition part of it and get mad when you don't get recognized. That's hypocritical. You HAVE to be involved for more than just money and fame. But, when you wait and don't like the results, cry fowl, and blame it on racism I believe you sully the Awards. Which leads me to point number #2.

2) The Current nominees all worked hard to earn an nomination through skill and talent. To be nominated is a major event and to have your performance or work in a film considered "less than or equal" to another film due to a "white out" is just de-flating. Especially if you are Alejandro Inarritu who has already won 3 Oscars and has been nominated 9 times (two of which are this year for The Revenant). The guy is a down town Charlie Brown from Mexico and is an extremely incredible director who has only been directing big movies since 2000. He certainly is not white, nor even 'Merican. Another example is Ang Lee, the Taiwanese-Chinese 'Merican who has won 3 (count them) 3 Oscars for directing movies since 2000 as well. I don't see Mr. Lee screaming fowl either. So, my point is that this demonstration or "white out" of the Academy kinda ruins it for the ones who are nominated. Does this issue need to be looked into? Sure, but not on the eve of the Awards. Those screaming fowl had all year to make noise, if not all their careers to "open up a dialogue"

Now, I understand that the raucous revolves around the Actor(s) category for both male and female leads and supporting. With that said, I have not seen all of the movies listed in the Awards. HOWEVER COMMA, I did see Concussion and it is my personal opinion that Will Smith should have got a nod of a Academy nomination. To me his performance superseded the Pursuit of Happyness role which I though was incredible. In Concussion he went further and deeper into a character that is a long way off of his usual "save the world" roles and I respect that. Plus, the story behind the movie is incredibly powerful. So, yes I was disappointed NOT to see him nominated for Best Actor. Would he have won against Leo in The Revenant? Probably not, because the Academy Award goes to...

Lastly, MAD MAX as a nominee for Best Picture? You have got to be kidding me...

John from Texas

PS: I have yet to watch "Beast of No Nation".

John,
Without having seen all the films hard to comment. However you make a good point on Alejandro who won Best Director and Best movie last year for Birdman and again nominated for Revenant. I suspect the boycott people are not counting him or perhaps their only concern is the acting categories.

Personally I find the boycott campaign does not do their cause any good. Certainly my opinion of Mr and Mrs Smith has gone down over it. If they had complained in a year when he was not nominated they might have some credibility, Two previous times he was nominated, 2002 and 2007, he was beaten by Denzel Washington (Training Day) and Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland). Denzel won the same year as Haile Berry. Incidentally Alejandro and his actors also big in 2007 for Babel with two supporting actress nominations for a Mexican and a Japanese.

Not seen an article covering it yet but perhaps somebody should ask Mr and Mrs Smith etc if Alejandro, Penelope Cruz, Rinko Kikuchi, Javier Bardem, Alfonso Cuarón Orozco (Director of Gravity who won) count. Seems not. If they dont count Mexicans as non white then perhaps an indication of some hypocrisy regarding colour.

Brett

 

[hotel3alpha]

John,
Without having seen all the films hard to comment. However you make a good point on Alejandro who won Best Director and Best movie last year for Birdman and again nominated for Revenant. I suspect the boycott people are not counting him or perhaps their only concern is the acting categories.

Personally I find the boycott campaign does not do their cause any good. Certainly my opinion of Mr and Mrs Smith has gone down over it. If they had complained in a year when he was not nominated they might have some credibility, Two previous times he was nominated, 2002 and 2007, he was beaten by Denzel Washington (Training Day) and Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland). Denzel won the same year as Haile Berry. Incidentally Alejandro and his actors also big in 2007 for Babel with two supporting actress nominations for a Mexican and a Japanese.

Not seen an article covering it yet but perhaps somebody should ask Mr and Mrs Smith etc if Alejandro, Penelope Cruz, Rinko Kikuchi, Javier Bardem, Alfonso Cuarón Orozco (Director of Gravity who won) count. Seems not. If they dont count Mexicans as non white then perhaps an indication of some hypocrisy regarding colour.

Brett

Roger that Brett,

Alejandro's Babel stunned me. That movie was genius that spanned every part of the globe that I have been on and I believe he is the only one who could have pulled it off. Now The Revenant has stunned and shocked me. I am surprised no body died in that movie. Different genre, but the directing is incredible. The point is that he spans the arena of genres, actors and locations with out regard other than the spirit of his craft. A craft that he continues to hone every single film he makes...and IT SHOWS.

The Academy Awards are not just for 'Mericans, they are for the entire world to see and celebrate film from all walks of life! Therefore, I find it extremely self serving to protest for one race only. Specifically 'Merican Black Folk. If the Smith family wanted to garner international attention to the flaws of a "racist Academy Award system" then they needed to come to the press/public with substantial proof, data, trends, bios, secret tapes, etc. Instead of conjecture that blows unnecessary air into a weak racial fire that does not need to be lit. There are bigger fires to be put out in this country. The bottom line:

ex-wife Jada is looking for a way to reconcile with the Big Willie Style and when he was not nominated for Concussion she found her sounding board and way back in.

As far as Creed is concerned...I don't think the Rocky Franchise will be picking up any new Oscars any time soon.

John from Texas

 

[Warrior]

I gave up on all things Hollywood when best director went to Speilberg and best picture went to Shakespeare in love, not Saving Private Ryan; 99 times out of 100, best director and best picture are a combo.

Adios to Hollywood after that farce.

 

[nysoldiers]

A very sensitive subject and outside the realm of toy soldiers but not necessarily history.
We know that prejudice and racism still exists and undoubtedly it has a history in the entertainment industry as well.
But when you look at the salaries and wealth obtained by actors, entertainers, athletes and entrepreneurs for all persuasions
we're pretty close to parity. In this case I have stated that after seeing all the nominated movies it might be a close call but
certainly the nominees are all deserving.
Frankly the movie goers are the real critics and they vote with their wallets and attendance. Hard to feel sorry for actors who make
millions doing a job they obviously enjoy! I think they are picking the wrong fight but heh this is a Democracy with freedom of speech
so if you want to cry and pout over who likes you better, go ahead. We have bigger problems to solve.

 

[hotel3alpha]

A very sensitive subject and outside the realm of toy soldiers but not necessarily history.
We know that prejudice and racism still exists and undoubtedly it has a history in the entertainment industry as well.
But when you look at the salaries and wealth obtained by actors, entertainers, athletes and entrepreneurs for all persuasions
we're pretty close to parity. In this case I have stated that after seeing all the nominated movies it might be a close call but
certainly the nominees are all deserving.
Frankly the movie goers are the real critics and they vote with their wallets and attendance. Hard to feel sorry for actors who make
millions doing a job they obviously enjoy! I think they are picking the wrong fight but heh this is a Democracy with freedom of speech
so if you want to cry and pout over who likes you better, go ahead. We have bigger problems to solve.

A very sensitive subject indeed, but this is a thread in the Movies and Media discusssion in a Toy Soldier Forum that has subthreads for different topics other than Toy Soldiers. So, the discussion is in the realm of the Movies and Media thread. Hence, the reason why I am lengthy in my explanations and descriptions to ensure that I don't sound insensitive, racists or just like a plain ole bigot. Which I surely am not (trust me on this) and which is why I am so exasperated with the Oscars that I am no longer a fan of the show.

Other than that every thing else you say I agree and YES we do have bigger problems to solves.

John from Texas