There are several flashes of genius in this compelling fact based story, beginning with Greg Kinnear’s impressive performance as a Detroit David who took down the Ford Motor Company’s Goliath.
Kearns was an independent inventor who patented his Blinking Eye window wiper in 1964 and tried to sell it to Ford. Ford seemed interested but declined a partnership. A few years later, a so-called ‘intermittent window wiper’ showed up on the Ford Mustang and subsequently on millions of other of their cars. In doing so, Ford paved the way for other car manufacturers to use it.
Kearns would not be mollified by a small settlement offer from Ford. He decided to commit himself to securing credit no matter how long it took. Well, it took fifteen years and cost him his marriage, job, friends and for a time, his mind.
More flashes of genius in the actors playing Kearns’ tight knit family. His wife and six children of a wife and seven kids are exceptional. And they’re not just domestic background players. Kearns’ children helped him get through a 15-year, soul sucking struggle in important ways and the young actors are solid enough to make it believable.
Eldest son Dennis, a university student, acted as his legal co-counsel, they helped him turn down a $33-million settlement offer Ford made and learned copyright law along with him. They spent months helping research and develop the case, amassing a garage full of papers, learning to write briefs, trial procedures and negotiate the automakers’ tactics.
Another flash of genius is to bring the story to the screen at all. It does not seem sexy on paper, but the simple story provides rare showcases for writing and acting excellence. It shows the extremes to which they all went to protect their name, help their father and fight a symbolic fight the little guy everywhere.
Kinnear came on the scene as the host of E!’s Talk Soup, and seemed a bit of a thespian lightweight. He showed leading man promise in his first lead in Sabrina, and won an Oscar nomination for As Good As It Gets a few years later. Bob Kearns raises Kinnear’s game even further.
Interestingly, he had the script on his bedside table for months but thought the subject matter didn’t even warrant a read.
The part includes Kearns’ sad breakdown as he’s removed from a bus headed for Washington, telling police the vice president had summoned him. Not shown in the film but notable is that Kearns; hair turned suddenly white when he discovered German carmakers were also helping themselves to his invention.
Kinnear gives Kearns intensity and dignity, even as he seems to be losing everything including his reason, and verging on obsession. His face tells the story eloquently. The script is spare and neat, as is the direction by Children of Men’s Marc Abraham.
35mm drama
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