Flash of Genius

    This is an important little film, even though at some moments, it is like watching paint dry in the 119 minutes it took to tell this tale. That said, "Flash of Genius" is well acted in all of the central roles, while telling an inspirational story of the little guy chasing equity, regardless of his obstacles.

    "Flash of Genius" is based on the true story of Bob Kearns, portrayed by Greg Kinnear with his trademark conviction, who in fact invented the Intermittent Windshield Wiper, and was subsequently defrauded by the Ford Motor Company, in the mid 1960's, by stealing the technology supposedly insured by his patent. Considering the unmitigated fact that Kearns experienced the "Flash of Genius," the standard by which true innovation is created by an inventor as per rulings by the Supreme Court.

    Without revealing too much of the plot, this story is as much about the enormous stress experienced by the Kearns family as was incurred by the inventor, until fruition of this story. While there were victories along the way, they did come at such a high cost, and that is the story here. Victory, but at what cost?

    Director Marc Abraham took the script by Phillip Railsback and wrung all the dramatic juice he could from this tale, and told an important story. A story that should give hope to all innovative folks everywhere, even though it took a bit long to tell.

    Rated PG13. Released on DVD February 17, 2009.