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Real Genius
When teenage geniuses Mitch Taylor and Chris Knight, working on an advanced laser project, learn that the military wants to use it as a weapon, they decide to thwart the plan.
1985 · Directed by Martha Coolidge · 106 min · Comedy · Romance · Science Fiction · Screenplay in the scene database · 12 frames
Tagline
When he gets mad, he doesn't get even… he gets creative.
Plot
The CIA has covertly hired Professor Jerry Hathaway at Pacific Tech University to develop the power source for "Crossbow", a laser weapon precise enough to commit illegal political assassinations from outer space. Hathaway uses his position to recruit brilliant students to do the work for him, diverting the CIA's funding into building his new house.
Hathaway recruits high school student Mitch Taylor, a budding genius in laser physics. Mitch is roomed with Chris Knight, a legend in the "National Physics Club" and one of Mitch's idols. Mitch's ideal of Chris is shattered, however, when Chris turns out to be more of a slacker than a hard-working student. Meanwhile, Hathaway hopes Mitch will encourage Chris to straighten up his act and that their two exceptional minds can develop a proper power source for Crossbow. Mitch also befriends Jordan Cochran, a hyperactive insomniac student for whom he gradually develops romantic feelings.
Kent, Hathaway's graduate student (and toady), reports Mitch for attending a pool party with Chris instead of working on the laser. Hathaway lambasts Mitch, who breaks down and tearfully calls his parents. Kent secretly records the call and uses the recording to humiliate Mitch. As Mitch begins packing to leave, Chris explains the pressures of school and burdens of being highly intelligent by relating the history of genius and former Pacific Tech student Lazlo Hollyfeld. Hollyfeld suffered a nervous breakdown when he discovered his creations were being used to kill, and he now lives hidden in the university's tunnels, accessed from beneath Chris and Mitch's closet. Chris, fearing the same could happen to him, learned to lighten up and enjoy life. Mitch agrees to stay, and they exact revenge on Kent by disassembling his car, a 1972 Citroën DS, and reassembling it in his dorm room.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Neal Israel, Pat Proft, PJ Torokvei
- Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond
- Edited by: Richard Chew
- Music: Thomas Newman
- Production design: Josan F. Russo
- Produced by: Brian Grazer
Cast
- Val Kilmer as Chris Knight
- Gabriel Jarret as Mitch Taylor
- Michelle Meyrink as Jordan
- William Atherton as Professor Hathaway
- Robert Prescott as Kent
- Louis Giambalvo as Major Carnagle
- Jon Gries as Lazlo Hollyfeld
- Ed Lauter as CIA Man Decker
- Stacy Peralta as Shuttle Pilot
- Daniel Ades as Laser Ray Victim
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Tri-Star-Delphi III Productions, Brian Grazer Productions
- Budget: $8,000,000
- Box office: $12,952,019
- Themes: genius, laser, u.s. air force, boy genius, ego, teen comedy, computer cracker, woman director
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