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Flash of Genius (2008)

tomatometer

59

Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 105
Fresh: 62 | Rotten: 43

The touching underdog story of a single guy against a massive corporation, Flash of Genius is a well-paced and well-written tale with a standout performance by star Greg Kinnear.

36

Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 28
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 18

The touching underdog story of a single guy against a massive corporation, Flash of Genius is a well-paced and well-written tale with a standout performance by star Greg Kinnear.

audience

56

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 5,406

My Rating

Movie Info

Greg Kinnear stars in director Marc Abraham's man-against-the-system docudrama Flash of Genius as inventor Robert Kearns, the visionary who developed the modern intermittent windshield wiper. Kearns submitted the invention to each of the big three auto companies, each of which promptly rejected it; the companies then turned around and put the device to use. The enraged inventor spent several decades attempting to collect on his patent, and mounting lawsuits that traveled all the way to the

PG-13, 2 hr.

Drama

Philip Railsback, Scott Frank, Marc Abraham

Feb 17, 2009

$4.2M

Universal Pictures

Cast

All Critics (107) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (43) | DVD (4)

If it doesn't rise to the level of It's a Wonderful Life, it's because Marc Abrams is no Frank Capra. And after all, this isn't about angels, it's about windshield wipers.

November 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Film.com | Comment (1)
Film.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Nothing too special here.

November 10, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There is depth, there is complexity, there is authenticity to this character.

November 10, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Seriously undermined by the skeletal script, which barely develops the characters and unintentionally raises more questions about Kearns's quixotic battle than it answers.

October 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Too much technical information about circuit boards, Motorola transistors and U.S. patent laws eventually takes up more screen time than Kearns' sympathetic story, leaving the viewer restless and bored.

October 8, 2008 Full Review Source: New York Observer | Comment
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

In the end, Flash of Genius abandons its most interesting story line - Kearns v. Kearns - for a reliance on formula.

October 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Kinnear is outstanding as Kearns, physically conveying the stubborn, scruffy sense of resolute ethics that drives him at the expense of almost everything else.

September 28, 2011 Full Review Source: American Profile | Comment

Kinnear inhabits the terrifically uncomfortable role of the rabbit staked out in a clearing to attract wolves.

August 15, 2011 Full Review Source: East Bay Express | Comment
East Bay Express

... Its true story, filmed and acted with great skill, has an uncommon poignancy.

May 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) | Comment
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

As in all films that make the questionable move of placing him front and center, Kinnear just blends in with the wallpaper.

March 29, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
TheMovieReport.com

Kinnear's hauntedness reminds us how sadly infrequently he gets to show off his deeply intriguing dramatic chops.

March 22, 2009 Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | Comment
Flick Filosopher

Ethics is at the heart of this David and Goliath story based on fact; a powerful story with a resonant emotional punch, but the storytelling is long winded with an emphasis on detail for detail's sake

February 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

Extras on the disc include a full-length audio commentary by director Marc Abraham and a set of deleted scenes.

February 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

It's as if the filmmakers are too nervous about making a mistake, so consistently take the safe path, draining the movie of colour and leaving us sympathetic but uninspired.

February 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

Following a twelve-year patent dispute regarding the invention of the intermittent windshield-wiper motor, it's not as interesting as it sounds.

October 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Philadelphia Weekly | Comment
Philadelphia Weekly

A thoughtful inquiry into the doubtful benefits of pursuing one's ideals 'to the end of the line,' as they say in Double Indemnity.

October 17, 2008 Full Review Source: Style Weekly (Richmond, VA) | Comment

On its simplified terms of one man against the machine, the movie works, thanks almost entirely to Greg Kinnear's performance.

October 12, 2008 Full Review Source: The Cinema Source | Comment

You may find yourself staring at your windshield wipers in fascination after you see "Flash of Genius," whichi s based on the real-life story of a "little guy" who went up against a corporation.

October 10, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Flash of Genius

Considering how predictable the story was, Flash of Genius was a fairly good film to watch. I had some minor issues with the film, and I thought that the film though good, wasn't as good as I'd thought it is. Robert Kearns seeks to be compensated and brings a lawsuit against the Ford Motor Company for patent

August 21, 2011
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Somewhat plodding but a good central performance by Greg Kinnear.

April 17, 2010
jjnxn
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

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