Frankly, the idea behind “Flash of Genius,” seems like a ridiculous premise for a film (see the trailer). A movie about the guy who invented the windshield wiper only to lose his patent to big-business and corporate hegemony sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry, but we must admit this understated poster is pretty class and sells home the larger point of the film – the David versus Goliath aspect – quite well.
We’re also not big fans of Greg Kinnear at all, but we suppose this tale of the little guy being screwed by the suits and then having the perseverance to keep at it and keep fighting could be a decent humanistic tale.
We’ll find out this weekend as the film opens on Friday, October 3. Meanwhile, we have three two posters from the film to give away. All one has to do is email us the name of the true-life character that Kinnear plays on the film. The answer, is not (for once) on our website. Google is your friend and we’re sure the answer is ripe for the taking.
Here’s the synopsis of the film. The widget for this thing has some pretty cool design to it too. You can embed it below if you like.
Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor [REDACTED for contest] (Greg Kinnear) long battle with the U.S. automobile industry, Flash of Genius tells the tale of one man whose fight to receive recognition for his ingenuity would come at a heavy price. But this determined engineer refused to be silenced, and he took on the corporate titans in a battle that nobody thought he could win. The Kearns were a typical 1960s Detroit family, trying to live their version of the American Dream. Local university professor Bob married teacher Phyllis (Lauren Graham) and, by their mid-thirties, had six kids who brought them a hectic but satisfying Midwestern existence. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants who embraced Bob’s creation unceremoniously shunned the man who invented it. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life’s work — or for that matter, anyone’s work — be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.