''Ingenious'' (originally titled ''Lightbulb'') is a 2009 American film. It is a rags-to-riches story of two friends, a small-time inventor and a sharky salesman, who hit rock bottom before coming up with a gizmo that becomes a worldwide phenomenon. It is based on the true story of some friends who are trying to come up with an
invention
An invention is a unique or novelty (patent), novel machine, device, Method_(patent), method, composition, idea, or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It m ...
, before hitting on an idea.
Cast
*
Dallas Roberts
Dallas Mark Roberts (born May 10, 1970) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Milton Mamet in the third season of AMC's '' The Walking Dead'' (2012–2013), Eliot Delson in ''Unforgettable'', and Owen Cavanaugh in '' The Good ...
as Matt, an inventor
*
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Lee Renner (born January 7, 1971) is an American actor. He began his career by appearing in independent films such as ''Dahmer (film), Dahmer'' (2002) and ''Neo Ned'' (2005), then supporting roles in bigger films, such as ''S.W.A.T. (20 ...
as Sam, Matt's lifelong friend and business partner
*
Ayelet Zurer as Gina, Matt's wife
*
Marguerite Moreau as Cinda
* as Louisa
*
Richard Kind
Richard Bruce Kind (born November 22, 1956) is an American actor and comedian. His television roles include '' Carol & Company'' (1990–1991), Dr. Mark Devanow in '' Mad About You'' (1992–1999, 2019), Paul Lassiter in '' Spin City'' (1996–20 ...
as Newkin
*
Eddie Jemison as Bean
*
Judith Scott Judith Scott may refer to:
* Judith Scott (artist) (1943 – 2005), American fiber artist
* Judith Scott (American actress) (born 1965), American television actress
* Judith Scott (British actress)
Judi Scott (1957–2018) was a British the ...
as Rita
*Debby Rosenthal as Brenda
*
Michael Kagan as Mort
*Rob Brownstein as Kent
*Vince Grant as Randall
*
François Chau
François Chau (born October 26, 1959) is a Cambodian and American actor. He is known for his roles as Dr. Pierre Chang in ABC's '' Lost'', Quick Kick on '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'', Dr. Chang in the film '' 21 & Over'', Shredder in '' ...
as Mr. Chow
Production
The film was shot on location in
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
and
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
. It premiered at the 2009
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is an eleven-day film festival held in Santa Barbara, California in February annually, since 1986. The festival screens over 200 feature films and shorts from different countries and regions. ...
.
Reception
In 2012, when the film went on release after Renner's success in ''
The Hurt Locker
''The Hurt Locker'' is a 2008 American war action thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal. It stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Christian Camargo, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, and Guy Pearce. T ...
'' and other films, ''
The Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper in the U.S. and the larges ...
'' reviewed it: "the storytelling is wildly uneven, with an off-balance structure that leaves the ending feeling abrupt and rushed. Whatever other Renner B-sides are floating around out there, let’s hope they feel a little more genius than ''Ingenious''."
See also
*
List of films shot in Arizona
References
External links
*
*
2009 films
2000s buddy films
American buddy drama films
American comedy-drama films
2009 comedy-drama films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films
English-language comedy-drama films
English-language buddy films
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