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Let's be realistic.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

A man's obsession with doing the right thing at any cost. Robert Kearns was driving his car during some light rain, and upon becoming annoyed with starting and stopping the windshield wipers with the control button, had his flash of genius about making something to delay the wipers; and the rest is history, as any of us who use intermittent wipers on our modern vehicles knows.The description of the plot gave me doubts, but I must admit that I was wrong, because the story is compelling from beginning to end. Kearns used his basement as a lab for experiments until he is able to make a device that works in a fish tank. He meets with Ford researchers who have been working on a project with the same goal, without success. Kearns is asked to come up with a cost per unit outline. He rents a warehouse to set up production, but becomes concerned when no one calls him back from Ford. They introduce the new Mustang with his idea. They deny the fact that they stole his invention, and as a result, he has a nervous breakdown, and is put in a mental hospital. His wife and children leave him because of his ongoing court battles, and his attorney, Gregory Lawson(Alan Alda) quits the case after Kearns refuses his advice to settle with Ford. Eventually, he finally is victorious, but at great personal cost. Flash of Genius is an outstanding real life drama, and Greg Kinnear is perfect as Kearns.

I don't think I've ever seen Greg Kinnear not bring his A-game, never seen him play in junk. This movie is not exception. He is truly one of the finest character actors on the scene, we should all be grateful we get a chance to experience his work, they don't make too many like that these days.This movie is one I had only glanced at previously on HBO, never really took the time to watch in full. I finally did today and I'm glad I did. I think only a certain type of person will really be able to identify with the main character. Only if you feel you have something unique to offer can you really grasp the depth of anger and sadness and betrayal one would feel if that uniqueness is stolen. Kinnear evoked that real emotion very well. Other highlights were Alan Alda and the kids.I really found myself disliking the characters played be Graham and Mulroney. Their ability to leave someone at a time he needed them most was just infuriating to me...even though it was probably realistic.Anyway, yes the movie is somewhat formulaic, but I didn't mind that. I even found myself wishing towards the end, "Please let that jury find in his favor." As someone emotionally invested in the film by the end, I would have been devastated had it not turned out favorably for the main character. And this movie had the added benefit of being true, which in my eyes, made it even more endearing.It's a nice movie, no fireworks, no Oscar nominations or anything, just a nice way to spend two hours. 7/10

I really enjoy a courtroom drama and I really enjoy watching the little guy get the better of the big corporation. So I was really pleased when I came across this film, which combines the two. Set in Detroit in the 1960's, it tells of one man's battle to get recognition from a large automobile manufacturer who, he claims, stole his idea.Bob Kearns is a college professor who teaches engineering, he's also an inventor. He is married to Phyllis and they have six children (yes, six). One day while driving his family home from church in a rainstorm, he comes up with an idea for an intermittent windscreen wiper. He designs a prototype and, with the help of his long-time friend, Gil Previck, he gets it patented. Now Bob wants to sell his idea to Ford, the largest automobile manufacturer, but he also wants to manufacture it himself. They show the idea to Ford, being very careful not to show them how it works, and they are impressed. After a meeting with one of their top managers, Macklin Tyler, and with promises of contracts, Bob eventually lets them examine his prototype. Just as he's getting ready to go into manufacturing, Ford pulls the plug and Bob is left feeling let down. This is until the day he sees a new Ford Mustang in the street with an intermittent wiper on it. He is determined to get Ford to admit they stole his idea, so much so that it affects both his marriage and mental state. I'll leave my little summary there or I'll give too much away!A really well made film that captured the world of 1960's Detroit very well. Great performances from both Greg Kinnear as Bob Kearns and Lauren Graham as his long suffering wife Phyllis. Honourable mentions go to Dermot Mulroney as Gil Previck, Mitch Pileggi as Macklin Tyler and it was nice to see Alan Alda as the lawyer Gregory Lawson.The first half of the film is quite slow, there's a lot of character development and I felt it ambled along a little too much. However, the second half is much better, the story really starts to take off and there is a really good ending. I really engaged with the main characters and I found it a very enjoyable film to watch. It's slightly over long, but it's one I can certainly recommend.My score: 6.8/10

One can have a legitimate argument when they voice that most Hollywood bio pics are a "flash in the pan"; but most certainly not "Flash of Genius". Director Marc Abraham's brilliant film on Dr. Robert Kearns, the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper, was not one wet dud. The narrative motors on Dr. Kearns' legal battle with the Ford Company, whom stole his revolutionary invention. But the narrative does not wipe away Kearns relationship with his wife Phyllis and his six kids, as it plays an integral part in the story. By the way, The Kearns fell just two short to be Gosselinized. Abraham does drive the motion that Kearns was an obsessive inventor who constantly fixated on obtaining justice for the Ford larceny. The ramification of that fixation for Kearns is that it wiped away his marriage with his mostly supportive but consequently impatient wife which he adored. Even though Dr. Kearns had his egoistic eccentricities, you have to admire his driven determination to stop short on nothing to obtain legitimate justice for his invention. Kearns actually represented himself in his legal battle, which actually provides the film's court scenes to have a semi-comical edge and an inspirational driving-force theme. Director Abraham marvelously invented & constructed "Flash of Genius" with bio clarity on one man's battle. Screenwriter Phillip Railsback scribed up a gripping and inspirational screenplay; ingenious movie wordsmith work here by Railsback. But what wiped me off my socks the most was the astounding performance of star Greg Kinnear as Kearns. I think the Academy did not see it too clear when they did not nominate Kinnear for a Best Actor Oscar for his shining work here. Commendable supporting acting work was also contributed to "Flash of Genius" by the clear-cut performances of Dermot Mulroney as Kearns' friend & business partner Gil Privick, and Alan Alda as a semi-pushy counsel Gregory Lawson. However, Lauren Graham's effort as Phyllis Kearns was not all that it was cracked up to be and she seemed to be in mediocre-thespian cruise control throughout the movie. Nevertheless, this is a "must-see" movie! So invent an entertaining day for you today by allocating some time for a "Flash of Genius" viewing. ***** Excellent