Une idée de génie

Jeff Balsmeyer's "Ingenious" focuses on a pair of inventors about whom I had never heard. Dallas Roberts and Jeremy Renner play the friends who are trying to find the next great innovation, a process that isn't without a few challenges. Their great achievement is something that looks as if it would be pretty neat to own. Sometimes when I see movies that look at these topics, it surprises me that I'd never heard of the subject (in this case the kind of bottle opener that they create). Now that I know about it I just might try to go out and find one of those bottle openers. In the meantime I recommend this movie. It's not a masterpiece but still worth seeing.

Renner wasn't big when he made this movie. Which is exactly why this only came out after his Avengers and Bourne outputs. Which is a shame, because the movie, which is based on a true story, is actually pretty decent. The acting in it too. And not only Renner, who's just a side character in the whole thing.

We get a fairly normal movie with its ups and downs. And even without knowing the real story behind this, we know where our characters will land at the end of the movie. Well it would be a surprise, if it is a surprise for anyone watching. What I didn't know, was what exactly would be the reason for that to happen. Who'd knew it would be that? And if they did, could they have come up with something like that too? Can we still?

I saw this at a special showing at The Loft (one of the best independent theaters in the country) last month. While everyone in the theater had a special affinity with the film (it was shot entirely in Tucson and every street scene brought a gasp of familiarity from the audience), there was more to the buzz than just local pride. The story is believable and fun, and while some of the circumstances might have been exaggerated, the characters ring true and there is a wonderful spirit that flows through the entire production. It's the kind of film that doesn't seem to get made these days, and it sat in unedited limbo for quite a while waiting for financing to finish it up. I can see why, because the marketing will be tough since there is no obvious target audience. But when it shows up in wider spread distribution, go see it. It's an evening well spent.

If the woman was as alluring-captivating as her, I'd have in a heartbeat made her a full partner as well (totally slick the way she gets 'him' set up). Well cast.. all other actors do good work, but I watched this film specifically to see Ayelet Zurer. Her performance in my mind was the payoff, she is just something special (incredible at 44... bing her.. binged.it/1sHfTuB ..look at all her incredible pix). It is totally obvious why she is so damn popular in her country, too bad more of her better work is not available to stateside audiences. Back to this movie, it's a fairly typical storyline, with your oh-so foreseeable ending.. with a slight twist. Had it come up with more noteworthy mood-enhancing background score, it could possibly have achieved another star. It definitely benefits from another full viewing.

I saw "Ingenious," a fun movie made right here in Tucson, starring Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker, The Town, Bourne Legacy) and Dallas Roberts (3:10 to Yuma, the Grey, Shrink) and Ayelet Zurer (Munich, Man of Steel) about the challenges of breaking the big idea. It's a fun look at the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and interpersonal dynamics as the quest for "the one" idea that wins, takes its toll.

Dallas Roberts delivers a convincingly conflicted performance, as "Matt," he struggles to satisfy his need to be creative, inventive and ingenious, and desperately loyal to his old friend, Sam, while his marriage is strained by these very traits. Matt's wife, Gina (Ayelet Zurer), is played with an earnestness that draws you in immediately. The two have great chemistry and deliver the key tension that drives the arc of Matt's story of growth.

Jeremy Renner's performance is authentic, and suffice it to say that you really feel for him and his inability to get out of his own way.

I had a chance to meet some of the production team, including local Tucson producer Timothy E. Flood who did an *amazing* job capturing Tucson in this film. It's great to see the landmarks so faithfully captured.