FLASH OF GENIUS

cast: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham

directed by Marc Abraham

studio: Universal Pictures

release date: Oct 3, 2008

Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns' (Greg Kinnear) 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 battle that nobody thought he could win.

The Kearns were a typical 1960s Detroit family, trying to live their version of the American Dream. Local university professor Bob married teacher Phyllis (Lauren Graham) and, by their mid-thirties, had six kids who brought them a hectic but satisfying Midwestern existence. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants who embraced Bob's creation unceremoniously shunned the man who invented it.

Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life's work--or for that matter, anyone's work--be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.

First time director Marc Abraham takes on this true David vs Goliath drama to the big screen and this is once again a great oppurtunity to Greg Kinnear, who is undoubtedly one of the most under rated of actors out there.

Check out the trailer HERE which shows that the movie has enough warmth and spirit to fill your hearts!

PANEL ROOM

Like the case of most biopics, FLASH OF GENIUS seems to have the pace as one of its flaws. The pace really does not seem to help the cause. The reviews garingly point out that the makers fail to justify Kinnear's action though we are supposed to be rooting out for him.

It might have served as an adequate cable television movie, but on the big screen this little guy is totally out of his league. ONE GUYS OPINION C

There's a fine line between standing up for yourself and selfishness, and "Flash of Genius" drives right over it. CHICAGO TRIBUNE

We have seen this kind of tale before, and director Marc Abraham is unable to convince us that we want to see it again. REELVIEWS 2.5/4

It’s a good story, it’s just not told very well. Much of the time, Flash of Genius simply fails to connect the dots. CINEMABLEND 3.5/5

a sober biopic with a surprisingly destructive core FILMCRITIC 3.5/5