Flash of Genius (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:103
Fresh:60
Rotten:43
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: The touching underdog story of a single guy against a massive corporation, Flash of Genius is a well-paced and well-written tale with a standout performance by star Greg Kinnear.
Theatrical Release:20-03-2009
Synopsis: Veteran producer Marc Abraham makes his feature film debut with FLASH OF GENIUS, based on a true story set in Detroit and spanning multiple decades. Dr. Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) has a good... [More]
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Dermot Mulroney, Alan Alda
Director: Marc Abraham
Reviews for Flash of Genius
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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Sentimental but remarkably compelling, the saga of a little man's victory over a corporate giant will ensure that you'll never see your windshield wipers the same way. Full Review |
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3.5/4 |
... Its true story, filmed and acted with great skill, has an uncommon poignancy. Full Review |
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 1.5/4 |
As in all films that make the questionable move of placing him front and center, Kinnear just blends in with the wallpaper. Full Review |
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Ethics is at the heart of this David and Goliath story based on fact; a powerful story with a resonant emotional punch, but the storytelling is long winded with an emphasis on detail for detail's sake Full Review |
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72/100 |
It's as if the filmmakers are too nervous about making a mistake, so consistently take the safe path, draining the movie of colour and leaving us sympathetic but uninspired. Full Review |
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If it doesn't rise to the level of It's a Wonderful Life, it's because Marc Abrams is no Frank Capra. And after all, this isn't about angels, it's about windshield wipers. Full Review |
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Nothing too special here. Full Review |
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There is depth, there is complexity, there is authenticity to this character. Full Review |
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Following a twelve-year patent dispute regarding the invention of the intermittent windshield-wiper motor, it's not as interesting as it sounds. Full Review |
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A thoughtful inquiry into the doubtful benefits of pursuing one's ideals 'to the end of the line,' as they say in Double Indemnity. Full Review |
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B- |
On its simplified terms of one man against the machine, the movie works, thanks almost entirely to Greg Kinnear's performance. Full Review |
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Seriously undermined by the skeletal script, which barely develops the characters and unintentionally raises more questions about Kearns's quixotic battle than it answers. Full Review |
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3/4 |
You may find yourself staring at your windshield wipers in fascination after you see "Flash of Genius," whichi s based on the real-life story of a "little guy" who went up against a corporation. Full Review |
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Too much technical information about circuit boards, Motorola transistors and U.S. patent laws eventually takes up more screen time than Kearns’ sympathetic story, leaving the viewer restless and bored. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Kinnear is excellent... Full Review |
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C |
As Ralph Nader learned, it's tough to make car-safety stimulating. Full Review |
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As filtered through screenwriter Philip Railsback's pen, Kearns' extraordinary life is rendered...well, ordinary. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Inventor fights for recognition in feel-good film. Full Review |
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B- |
Well constructed, albeit bland, story. Full Review |
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Greg Kinnear's performance drives an old fashioned and satisfying David vs. Goliath picture. Full Review |
CommentLatest News for Flash of Genius
March 17, 2009:
Five Favourite Films with Greg Kinnear
How do you describe the career of a guy who started as the host of Talk Soup on E! and within five years was Oscar nominated for a role opposite Jack Nicholson? Greg Kinnear is... More...
February 16, 2009:
RT on DVD: High School Musical 3 or Midnight Meat Train?
It's a good week for mediocre films (Body of Lies, Changeling, Quarantine and Flash of Genius, which all walk a fine line between Fresh and Rotten) and an even better one if... More...
October 02, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Chihuahua to Overtake Multiplexes
Hollywood kicks off the fourth quarter with a stampede of new releases that will test the elasticity of the marketplace. Ambulances are already on standby to rush the high... More...
September 02, 2008:
After 15 Years, Abraham's Flash of Genius Strikes 
Why make your directorial debut on a movie about the guy who invented the intermittent windshield wiper? For Marc Abraham, it came down to a matter of principle. More...
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