IMDb >
Flash of Genius (2008)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsFlash of Genius (2008) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 43 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 20) |
          |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
3 October 2008 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Corporations have time, money, and power on their side. All Bob Kearns had was the truth. more
Plot:
Robert Kearns takes on the Detroit automakers who he claims stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
more
NewsDesk:
(24 articles)
Casting Tidbits: Owen Wilson, Emma Stone, Jim Gaffigan & More
(From FirstShowing.net. 3 November 2009, 9:04 AM, PST)
Kinnear: 'Making films is a crapshoot'
(From digitalspy. 23 March 2009, 6:46 AM, PDT)
(From FirstShowing.net. 3 November 2009, 9:04 AM, PST)
Kinnear: 'Making films is a crapshoot'
(From digitalspy. 23 March 2009, 6:46 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Needs more inventiveness . . .
more (38 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Greg Kinnear | ... | Bob Kearns |
 | Tim Eddis | ... | Maryland Cop #1 |
| Warren Belle | ... | Maryland Cop #2 |
| Karl Pruner | ... | Pete |
 | Bill Lake | ... | Scott |
 | Dermot Mulroney | ... | Gil Previck |
 | Lauren Graham | ... | Phyllis Kearns |
| Landon Norris | ... | Young Dennis |
| Shae Norris | ... | Young Kathy |
| Steven Woodworth | ... | Young Tim |
 | Victoria Learn | ... | Young Maureen |
| Dylan Authors | ... | Young Patrick |
| Ronn Sarosiak | ... | Reverend |
| Gavin Kuiack | ... | Baby Bob Jr. |
| Ben Kuiak | ... | Baby Bob Jr. |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
USA:119 min | Canada:119 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:PG-13 (certificate #44181) |
Australia:PG |
UK:12A |
Ireland:PG |
France:U |
Germany:o.Al. |
Singapore:PG |
Argentina:13 |
Netherlands:AL
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Kearns received many offers from Hollywood for his story over the years but he rejected them all as he didn't trust anyone enough to tell his story properly. Eventually he was won over by Marc Abraham's passion and his promise to keep to the facts as much as possible. The family provided documentation, photographs, home movies and anecdotes, while eldest son Dennis - now a lawyer - represented the family's interests. All in all, the process of getting the Kearns story up onto the big screen took 9 years.
more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: As the Kearns family is proposing a toast in the diner (celebrating his invention), you can see a white 2008 Acura pulling out of the garage across the street.
more
Movie Connections:
References Frankenstein (1931)
more
Soundtrack:
Too Many Fish in the Sea
more
FAQ
A Note Regarding Spoilers"Is Flash of Genius" based on a book?
Didn't a woman invent the windshield wiper?
more
more (38 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Flash of Genius (2008) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Tucker: The Man and His Dream | A Beautiful Mind | Dead Ringers | Stonewall | Blow |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
Just imagine over 30 years ago inventing something as useful as the intermittent windshield wiper, a device everyone uses when it rains. Now that's immortality for inventor Bob Kearns, professor and engineer.
What is more astonishing is he was almost forgotten after the Ford Motor Company usurped the design and promoted it as its own. The dramatic tension is Kearns' fight for recognition involving years of personal and familial losses. The two moments of inspiration, the "flash of genius," one a personal eye injury and the other driving in the driving rain, are dramatically satisfying if not downright underplayed (appealing to my minimalist sensibilities).
The film is exciting when Kearns is developing the device with those design inspiration moments fleshed out and the partnering with Ford slowly materializing. The film slows down as if in a school zone when at least a third of the Kearns' time is spent struggling with wife Phyllis Kearns (Lauren Graham) over the cost to them in time and trauma to go after Ford. The dutiful wife suffering the ambitious husband has been played in American cinema and theater too much to be fresh, no different here. The scenes with family, especially his wife, evoke my usual response: All right, already, I get the point. Now get on to the good stuff.
Similarly, Kinnear plays Kearns so low key as to be soporific. Although I don't doubt Kearns was an introverted geek, a dramatic rendition would have enlivened the character without compromising his essence.