Flash of Genius is a surprisingly spirited little movie starring Greg Kinnear that tells the true story of one inventor’s battle with the big corporation that stole his greatest idea.
Set in the 1950s, Flash of Genius begins with the revelatory moment in which Dr. Kearns (Greg Kinnear) first conceives of his “blinking eye” intermittent windshield wiper.
The film soon follows the naive but proud Dr. Kearns from the joyous moment when his mind’s invention becomes a reality through his troublesome dealings with Ford Motor Company that ultimately lead to the powerful automobile corporation’s theft of Kearn’s invention.
We then watch as Kinnear brilliantly portrays Kearn’s heartbreak and mental breakdown after losing his life’s work, his determination to seek justice at the expense of his family, and his tenacious refusal to accept the greedy company’s offers of monetary compensation in lieu of vindication.
I mistakenly expected the film to be boringly pleasant at best, but the second half was particularly riveting. Despite his obvious flaws and the pain he caused his family, I felt emotionally invested in the outcome of Dr. Kearns’ case.
