Why does Will Smith look so sad? Is it because his teenage daughter just dropped an album with a track titled “dRuGz”? Well, yeah, probably, but it’s also because he’s playing Dr. Bennet Omalu, the real-life neuropathologist whose discovery of a life-threatening brain trauma puts him at odds with the the NFL. Though he got to play the charming leading man earlier this year in Focus, Peter Landesman’s Concussion will be the first opportunity for Smith to go big and dramatic in quite some time. Backing him up is an exciting, eclectic cast, including Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, and Albert Brooks. Concussion opens nationwide on December 25, but The A.V. Club and Sony Pictures have an opportunity for our readers in both Chicago and Milwaukee to catch it on December 21 for free. For your chance to win a pair of passes to the Chicago screening, simply follow the link here and enter your information. For an opportunity to win passes to the Milwaukee screening, head here. Remember: Advance screenings are often intentionally overbooked, so be sure to arrive early if you want to guarantee yourself a seat. An official plot synopsis and trailer for the film can be found below.
Will Smith stars in Concussion, a thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful—and beloved—institutions in the world.