SummaryBased on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns' long battle with the U.S. automobile industry, Flash of Genius tells the tale of one man whose fight to receive recognition for his ingenuity would come at a heavy price. But this determined engineer refused to be silenced, and he took on the corporate titans in a ... Read More
Directed By:Marc Abraham
Written By:Philip Railsback, John Seabrook
Flash of Genius
Metascore
Mixed or Average
57
User score
Generally Favorable
6.9
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
57
52% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
44% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
100
It's exhilarating in an authentic, pathos-streaked way to see Kearns, through Greg Kinnear's inspired characterization of a wary obsessive, representing himself during his trial against Ford Motor Co. for stealing his design.
75
It's a smart movie for grownups, an increasingly rare commodity.
67
The individual components of director Marc Abraham's David-and-Goliath drama are roundly unexceptional; the script, soft and teach-y; the performances, earnest.
63
In short, Flash of Genius fails to make viewers care with any depth about the story it's telling.
50
It has the tone and texture of a well-made but forgettable television movie.
50
Moderately inspiring in the way such true-life stories of "the indomitable human spirit" are always constructed to be.
20
Greg Kinnear, usually kinetic, is unusually (and unbearably) dull.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.9
73% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
27% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Oct 4, 2011
7
Its not a movie that stands out in any way and if it was not for Kinear's decent acting (not incredible, but decent), the movie would have done far worse. Kinear definitely carried out his portrayal to make the film believable and there are some other saving performances. The movie makes a visible lifte when Alan Alda makes his appearance. Also on the plus, it was shot well and pacing was acceptable. On the negative side, its predictable and a little too toned down. To quote a character "Let's tone down the language." (against Ford). The movie could have listed the countless other inventors marginalized and by corporations and could have made a much stronger statement.
Production Company:
- Universal Pictures
- Spyglass Entertainment
- Strike Entertainment
- Intermittent Productions
Release Date:Oct 3, 2008
Duration:1 h 59 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:Corporations have time, money, and power on their side. All Bob Kearns had was the truth.
Awards
Boston Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
