Review of Flash of Genius (2008) by Walter M — 01 Dec 2009

Based on a true story, "Flash of Genius" establishes itself quickly as a dark and moody character study with Bob Kearns(Greg Kinnear, a limited actor giving a strong performance), disoriented as he is led off a bus by state troopers, being told his family is worrying about him.

Three years earlier, he teaches engineering at a university in Detroit, married to a loving and long suffering wife(Lauren Graham) and has six kids. Singleminded to the point of obsession, there are many times when that does not involve his wife which makes one wonder as to how he actually fathered six kids, especially since it looks like they have twin beds.

(There is a Monty Python joke here somewhere.) One such thought process leads to the invention of the intermittent windshield wiper which he brings to a friend(Dermot Mulroney) who then helps him get an interview with Ford Motor Company.

Bob has dreams of manufacturing the devices himself but Ford apparently steals the design first which puts him on a very long path seeking justice. We know Bob is right and root for him, even though he is flawed and his complete certainty in his cause, not allowing for compromise, makes him lose all perspective at times.

While exploring the dark side of the American dream in a realistic way(No conspiracy theories, please. This is just the way things work.), "Flash of Genius" excels at conveying his struggle, hardships and sacrifice, so that when the climax arrives, there is a great sense of relief for everybody involved.