SnoopyStyle Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) is happily married to Phyllis (Lauren Graham) with six children. He's an ethics professor and a mechanical engineer with no manufacturing experience. He does see a problem with his windshield wiper and invents the intermittent windshield wiper. He with the help of Gil Previck (Dermot Mulroney) patent and tries to sell the device. He works with Ford and sets up his own manufacturing plant. However, Ford steals his idea and he struggles to gain redress in court.This is a small guy being taken advantage by a large corporation. It's a simple idea and a simple underdog story. The drama is straight forward. There are no big unexpected twists. In the end, it is just compelling enough to be good.

billcr12 A man's obsession with doing the right thing at any cost. Robert Kearns was driving his car during some light rain, and upon becoming annoyed with starting and stopping the windshield wipers with the control button, had his flash of genius about making something to delay the wipers; and the rest is history, as any of us who use intermittent wipers on our modern vehicles knows.The description of the plot gave me doubts, but I must admit that I was wrong, because the story is compelling from beginning to end. Kearns used his basement as a lab for experiments until he is able to make a device that works in a fish tank. He meets with Ford researchers who have been working on a project with the same goal, without success. Kearns is asked to come up with a cost per unit outline. He rents a warehouse to set up production, but becomes concerned when no one calls him back from Ford. They introduce the new Mustang with his idea. They deny the fact that they stole his invention, and as a result, he has a nervous breakdown, and is put in a mental hospital. His wife and children leave him because of his ongoing court battles, and his attorney, Gregory Lawson(Alan Alda) quits the case after Kearns refuses his advice to settle with Ford. Eventually, he finally is victorious, but at great personal cost. Flash of Genius is an outstanding real life drama, and Greg Kinnear is perfect as Kearns.

AudioFileZ When I heard "Flash Of Genius" was about the invention of the intermittent windshield wiper I thought instead of viewing it, perhaps, I might spend my time watching paint dry because it would be of equal entertainment with the added benefit of a freshly painted room. I'm glad I opted to watch the "wiper story" because it is a factual document of one of the world's largest corporations doing what they do on a daily basis, that is to take advantage of their enormous power with little or no regard to the individual...But, I'm glad to report, in this case, having criminal culpability and enormous financial liability.Dr. Bob Kearns was a inventor, college professor, and family man. He solved the deceptively simple task of matching an automobile's windshield wiper wipe frequency to varying rain intensity. Bottom line, he invented the intermittent windshield wiper for the automobile, but he made the mistake of allowing Ford to dissect his invention prior to having an ironclad contract. He trusted Ford to be morally upright and true to their word...Big mistake! What follows is a man's personal descent into Hell. His best friend and business partner bails on him, he suffers a mental breakdown complete with forced hospitalization, more than one or two lawyers claiming to do whatever it takes for justice actually are hoping for fast settlements, and his wife divorces him moving away with their kids. All the while, first Ford, and then all automakers, sell new cars with their miraculous "intermittent wiper" feature. As I watched this I was actually glad I had not owned a Ford vehicle in five or so years! Flash of Genius is "Rudy" by another name and genre. It is akin to David slaying Goliath. It's like cresting Everest in flip-flops, shorts, and a t-shirt! Bob Kearns didn't just win against Ford, he exposed their dishonesty, lack of morals, and treachery in front of the world-a far greater, if not impossible, accomplishment. The story is even better because after exhausting all those high minded "justice seeking" lawyers Bob "took out the garbage" and acted as his own legal counsel. Thus when Dr. Kearns won his settlement Ford also had to pay him legal fees which went 100% to his family. The portrayal of these facts just serve to make the story more rich! For me, Greg Kinnear makes this story come to life. He's not overly sympathetic, but he's completely vulnerable as his old life dissolves into a complete need to have Ford give him his rightful compensation. He deftly plays a brittle, though not completely broken, man who has lost everything save his pride regarding his invention. There is a true low-key brilliance at work here, both in the message and the messenger. If you value true life underdog stories where against all odds the protagonist prevails look no further. A very good film overall I'd say.

dbborroughs Greg Kinnear is Robert Kearns who invented the intermittent windshield wiper and then spent the next bunch of years battling the car companies for patent infringement. Its an amazing story, that would be great film except for the fact that Kearns is a very difficult man to warm to. You understand how his tunnelvision disrupted the life of everyone around him. As good as the film was, and it is an excellent film on all levels, I wanted it to be over so I could know how it came out and I could not have to spend any more time with Kearns. (Kinnear is excellent by the way) I understand why this film isn't better known and why it hasn't caught on since as good as the film is, our hero is almost one note. Try it it may click with you.