User Reviews

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?

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.

This movie was filmed in Tucson AZ in different parts of the city. I was doing Security for the set and didn't really know what all it was about but did see Richard Kind and Jeremy Renner and didn't know who either were at the time but did recognize Richard Kind from TV but didn't know his name but know he was a well known actor. This movie was filmed in 2007 and I had been trying to find it for years because I guarded the camera, lighting and trailers and kept homeless people from wandering into the set up areas during filming but didn't know the name of the movie. Almost every part of town they filmed in was the ghetto to...lol No joke they left millions of dollars worth of camera and lighting equipment and trailers and the cars they used for the movie just sitting on the street or in parking lots with only one unarmed Security guy at a time watching the stuff. It was a miracle nothing got stolen. Now that I finally found it online I was able to watch it and remember the green car that was on the set and the different places we went where they set up for days at a time to film. Almost got in a fist fight with a homeless dude that wanted to eat with the crew working on the film when they were set up at the TCC downtown. Dude was refusing to leave...lol If I had known Jeremy Renner was going to become such a well known actor i would have asked for his autograph because I was everywhere the cast, extras and crews were working and guarded the trailers. One thing I learned in doing Security for a movie set is that the camera and lighting guys are the hardest working people in the movie industry, those guys had a hard job. Anyway, I honestly didn't like the movie but was glad to finally see it because it was filmed in my hometown of Tucson AZ and I was one of the Security guys working the set with a company called Tactical Elete Security.

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.

Just saw this film at the AFI Dallas Film Festival. I was very impressed with all elements of the film: acting, direction, editing (though the dialog transitions were sometimes a little shaky), cinematography, etc. Dallas Roberts (Matt) and Jeremy Renner (Sam), who had not worked together previously, establish an amazing on-screen chemistry as best friends struggling to run a novelty gift business. The dilapidated storefront they operate out of is the emblem of their entrepreneurial disconnect: high on energy and ideas, low on success. Ayelet Zurer, the smoldering Israeli beauty, plays Matt's long-suffering wife Gina with nuance and flair.

I would recommend this film not only to indie fans who like a fair amount of high-speed comedy mixed in with their drama, but also to *anyone* who has ever tried to run their own business, and really put themselves out on a limb for an idea or a dream.

All great films (and this is surely one of them) have a key line or scene that summarizes the film. Without giving anything away, I will tell you that in this film, it is the closing scene atop a mountain with Matt and Gina.

Jeremy Renner was at the screening for a Q&A. He was funny, quirky, and candid, much like his character in the film. I can't wait to see this guy in more vehicles, even the television series "The Unusuals" that he's making with Amber Tamblyn.

Two thumbs way up!

Nice to watch a film , that touches a little bit of everyone's imagination and lives ,without a murder in it ,or a with the now standard special person who can be shot at 30 times but fires off one round and is a victor As with everything , there are are some obvious areas of concerns for the self righteous and do gooders to have a little word here and there .

However , very easy to watch and yes no surprises really ,but a nice 90 minutes with some good acting in many places .

Reviews vary as always , people have very different opinions but for my part ,as a person who just likes films and due to watching mostly everything in lockdown felt in short supply of good story well portrayed .

I felt like the message of this film was that gambling is great because if you keep throwing your money at slim chances, eventually you'll hit big on something. The characters are all utterly unlikeable, and although Balsmeyer wants us to believe they redeemed themselves, they didn't. They simply blew it all on one more gamble and got lucky. The actors felt like bad 90s sitcom leftovers. I kept waiting for them to reveal that it was all a gag. But it wasn't. Rags to riches stories are meaningful only if the plot involves admirable choices on the part of the heroes. The type of scum who spend their lives concocting pointless garbage like talking beer openers don't deserve a film celebrating their uselessness.

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.

This movie is terrific. The overarching story of one man's attempt to allow one excellent idea to flow through him from "the universal mind" was authentic, believable and thoroughly inspirational. The actors, the script and the setting were fresh and absolutely cool. The look of the film - sort of 70's-esque -, the script, and music were terrific. The movie was a bit choppy in a couple of places. The various story lines & scenes of the inventor, the friends, the romances, the family members all seemed bona fide. I absolutely loved the setting and dialogue. Overall, the freshness factor of this movie, the mostly excellent production, and the inspirational story make this a movie I will recommend to everyone I know.

I went into this movie with the idea that it would be pretty boring. Its not my typical type of movie genre... However, despite the lack of action (there was never any thrilling movie-climax moment that you get so much these days) it certainly was entertaining. I NEVER felt bored. Its a steady movie. Dallas Roberts and Jeremy Renner do a fantastic job. The characters feel so real, like they could be your neighbors, your friends, any common person. I was impressed by the amazing cinematography. It's scene after scene of beautiful camera angles. I was particularly struck by the spectacular lighting, using the dessert sun and scenery to their advantage. I didn't catch who directed the cameras, but I want to find them and hug them and make them turn my life into such a beautiful thing as they did this film. So, while it wasn't the best movie ever, I do love it and don't regret watching. I'd DEFINITELY recommend it to my friends.

I was stuck in traffic the other day and decided to put on this film to help pass the time (don't worry, both hands were on the steering wheel and it was only generally stopped traffic.), this film caught my eye was because of the tag-line "All it takes is one big idea." which is something that struck because of its relation to the recent book I've read entitled "Think And Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. The poster also had a fairly young (or young looking) Jeremy Renner as an added pull for me to watch the film. Jeremy Renner stars along Dallas Roberts (Milton Mamet, he's a scientist from The Walking Dead.) and Ayelet Zurer (Lara Lor-Van from the 2013 Man Of Steel film.). The film is based on the true story of Mike Cram, an inventor (played by Dallas Roberts) and his friend who's a salesman (Jeremy Renner) who have tried to execute a bunch of ideas until they come to a point where they're really down on their luck, still in search of that one big idea that will turn everything around. The on screen chemistry between the 2 lead actors was very natural, they fit their roles of best buddies quite well which helped make the film very easy to watch. The film had a warm tone to it, perhaps because the film was shot in a desert town/city, Arizona if I'm not mistaken. The film was put together very well, no wild camera angles or sequences, just simple and straightforward storytelling.

This film is one of those inspirational films, after watching, it leaves you with the feeling like you need to go and create something, make something that's yours. With that feeling like you gotta rack your brain for that one idea that could change everything. I know how that feels, because that's something I've been doing for years now. Trying things, taking small steps in executing my own ideas or innovating on current ideas. It's frustrating at times but this film helped serve as a reminder to keep pressing on. To keep on trying, because amidst all the difficulties and the challenges you'll face, the next great idea is just beyond the horizon. Your big break is right there if you can just have the strength and the courage to push forward. This film takes you on a roller coaster ride into the life of an inventor, basically into the life of anyone who has ever had an idea and pursued it and did whatever it took, until the very end, no matter if that end was success or a learning experience. This film is an expanded portrayal of the saying "necessity is the mother of invention.", you'll see what I mean once you get a chance to watch it.

I highly recommend this film, I have a strong feeling that it will be something you'll enjoy. Who knows, this might give you that extra inspirational push you've been looking for to pursue that idea you've had in your head for the longest time or even spark the creation of a new one. :)

For my other reviews, feel free to check out tomhuang03.blogspot.com