7.0 Popcorn boxes
Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) has an idea; why not have windshield wipers operat only as needed; in other words, intermittently. He gets to work, and devises one. He patents it, and thinks of starting a manufacturing plant to produce his wiper system, but realizes it's too expensive to do. So he shops it around the auto manufacturers. None of them want to buy it, but Kearns later finds out the one of the companies he's shown the device to, Ford, has introduced one of their own, without acknowledging it was Kearns who came up with the idea first.
Kearns isn't ready to throw in the towel; he decides to sue Ford for stealing his idea. Ford claims they've come up with the idea themselves, and they refuse at first to settle. After Kearns sues, Ford makes a paltry offer, which his attorney Gregory Lawson (Alan Alda) urges him to accept. Kearns wife supports taking the money, since the lawsuit has been taking over his life. But Kearns refuses, noting the Ford sells millions of cars with his device, and he should get a cut of every sale. He turns down subsequent offers, because Ford refuses to acknowledge the wiper system was his idea. His obsession with the case becomes all-consuming, and puts strains on himself, and his relationship with his family.
Kennear fully inhabits his role as the obsessive Kearns, while Lauren Graham does good work as his wife Phyllis.
No comments:
Post a Comment