The End of the Tour (2015)

The story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, 'Infinite Jest.'

Director:

James Ponsoldt

Writers:

Donald Margulies (screenplay), David Lipsky (book)

Stars:

Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Anna Chlumsky

4 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Anna Chlumsky	...	Sarah
Joan Cusack	...	Patty
Ron Livingston	...	David Lipsky's Editor
Jesse Eisenberg	...	David Lipsky
Jason Segel	...	David Foster Wallace
Mamie Gummer	...	Julie
Mickey Sumner	...	Betsy
Becky Ann Baker	...	Bookstore Manager
Dan John Miller	...	NPR Host
Jennifer Jelsema	...	Hotel Front Desk Clerk
Carrie Bradstreet	...	Airline Ticket Agent
Chelsea Anne Lawrence	...	Aquarium visitor / Dating movie goes (as Chelsea Lawrence)
Punnavith Koy	...	Movie Goer
Scott Stangland	...	Party Friend 1
Rammel Chan	...	Student #3

Storyline

The story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, 'Infinite Jest.'

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Plot Keywords:

dog | reading aloud from a book | baptist church | anesthesia | existentialism | 

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Taglines:

Imagine the greatest conversation you've ever had.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including some sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 2015 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

A turné vége

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$123,238, 2 August 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,993,669, 13 December 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Modern Man Films,Anonymous Content,Kilburn Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the director, at least one family member of David Foster Wallace has seen the movie. Out of respect for the privacy of the family he wouldn't say anything more than that the reaction was positive and the person liked the film.

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Goofs

In one scene the characters drive by a Burger King with a modern logo that was not introduced until 1999, 3 years after the time in which the film takes place.

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Quotes

David Foster Wallace: ...to be seduced off the path of anything meaningful because of the way our culture is now...

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Crazy Credits

Halfway through the closing credits, there is an extra scene told from the perspective of David Foster Wallace as Lipsky goes to the bathroom to wash out the chewing tobacco. It shows what Wallace did while he was in the bathroom: he speaks privately into the tape recorder.

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Connections

Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Jason Segel/Michael B. Jordan/Big Sean/Brad Wilk (2015)

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Soundtracks

Gold Soundz
Written by Stephen Malkmus
Performed by Pavement (as PAVEMENT)
Courtesy of Matador Records

User Reviews

Definitely for a very select audience but the acting sure was nice...

"The End of the Tour" is a hard-sell of a movie. While it features Jesse Eisenberg (whose career have been very hot) and Jason Segal and you'd think the film would have mass appeal, it clearly does not. This isn't a complaint--many of the films I really enjoy are really not the sorts of films that would entertain the most viewers. Instead, it's a film for a narrow audience and if you think you might be among those who would appreciate the movie, by all means watch it. After all, you will see some very nice acting and the story improves and gains momentum as the film progresses.

The story is about an odd sort of interview that took place when David Lipsky (Eisenberg) of Rolling Stone Magazine hung out with literary star David Foster Wallace (Segal) for several days back in the late 1990s. Cutting right to the chase, the film begins with the announcement that Wallace committed suicide and the film is a flashback as Lipsky remembers the strange and very lengthy meeting the two had back in 1996. As I said, this lasted days as the two just hung out together and talked...making it far different than a typical magazine interview.

As far as what they talk about and the themes of their meeting go, this really isn't something I can really explain very well in a review-- you just need to see it and experience it. Instead, I would rather try to convey the style of their time together on the film. It feels like you are a fly on the wall as two intellectuals talk and talk and talk....and talk. Wallace generally presents more as an 'Every Man' sort of guy while Lipsky seems, at times, as if he's trying to impress his new friend with his intellectual prowess. What all this means...well, that's really up to the viewer.

The bottom line is that if you really like action films, this film's is probably not for you. If you love 'literature' as opposed to just reading a book for enjoyment, this movie might be exactly what you'd love to see. As for me, I think I'm in the middle on this one. I can really respect the acting as well as the filmmakers' desire to make a quality picture as opposed to a mass-marketed film. But, on the other hand, the film is slow and very deliberate. It also took a while until I really stared to appreciated it...and I'm not if I ever exactly enjoyed it.