Flash of Genius (2008)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Marc Abraham

Writers (WGA):

Philip Railsback (written by)
John Seabrook (article)

Release Date:

3 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Corporations have time, money, and power on their side. All Bob Kearns had was the truth.

Plot:

Robert Kearns takes on the Detroit automakers who he claims stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper.

Plot Keywords:

Automobile | Detroit Michigan | Automobile Industry | Engineer | Teacher

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Jake Abel	...	Dennis Kearns
Aaron Abrams	...	Ian Miellor
Alan Alda	...	Gregory Lawson
London Angelis	...	Wade Previck
Dylan Authors	...	Young Pat Kearns
Warren Belle	...	Cop #2
Grant Boyle	...	Patrick Kearns
Ashton Doudelet	...	Older Tim
Tim Eddis	...	Cop #1
Andrew Gillies	...	Paul Previck
Lauren Graham	...	Phyllis Kearns
Josette Halpert	...	Teen Maureen
Tim Kelleher	...	Charlie Defao
Greg Kinnear	...	Bob Kearns
Gavin & Ben Kuiack	...	Infant Bob Kearns Jr
Victoria Learn	...	Young Maureen
Isaac Lupien	...	Older Bob Kearns Jr
Tatiana Maslany	...	Older Kathy Kearns
Dermot Mulroney	...	Gil Privick
Duane Murray	...	Jim
Landon Norris	...	Young Dennis Kearns
Shae Norris	...	Young Kathy Kearns
Kate Parr	...	Peggy
Mitch Pileggi	...	Ford Exec
Simon Reynolds	...	Chrysler Guy
Daniel Roebuck	...	Frank Sertin
Chuck Shamata	...	Professor Irwin
Bill Smitrovich	...	Judge Michael Franks
Kristian Truelsen	...	Doctor
Steven Woodworth	...	Young Tim
Liam & Owen Wright	...	Toddler Bob Kearns Jr.

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

Canada:119 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Intermittent Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When the invention is to be demonstrated to Ford, Kearns gets under the dash then shows a modern (blade type) fuse and says "It's just a fuse" - but the modern fuses were not in use in the 1960s.

Well acted and executed, but slightly mundane.

Saw the very first showing of this tonight at the Traverse City Film Festival. It was a good movie and Greg Kinnear was very good. The film felt too restricted and hyper focused on the primary movie subject, Bob Kearns. It could have been made better by infusing a bit of side-story from the conflicting characters points of view. Bob Kearns low point in the movie also seemed to happen abruptly with no run-in to the plot twist, so much so that I felt like I missed something. Lauren Graham offered a fine performance, as did Dermot Mulroney's limited screen time. Overall I liked the movie but felt more could have been done to fill some gaps.