The End of the Tour

Name: The End of the Tour
Genre: Drama
Released: July 31, 2015
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Anna Chlumsky, Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Joan Cusack, Mamie Gummer

2015

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 119 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 119 Ratings

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The End Of The Tour

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: July 31, 2015 | R

Starring: Anna Chlumsky, Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Joan Cusack, Mamie Gummer, Mickey Sumner, Ron Livingston

Summary: The End of the Tour tells the story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter (and novelist) David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel), which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace’s groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest. As the days go on, a tenuous yetThe End of the Tour tells the story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter (and novelist) David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel), which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace’s groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest. As the days go on, a tenuous yet intense relationship seems to develop between journalist and subject. The two men bob and weave around each other, sharing laughs and also possibly revealing hidden frailties – but it’s never clear how truthful they are being with each other. Ironically, the interview was never published, and five days of audio tapes were packed away in Lipsky’s closet. The two men did not meet again. The film is based on Lipsky’s critically acclaimed memoir about this unforgettable encounter, written following Wallace’s 2008 suicide. [A24]… Expand

Director: James Ponsoldt

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Steve Persall

Aug 11, 2015

The End of the Tour asks viewers to lean in, listen well and be rewarded with an uncommonly intelligent and relatable movie experience. Read full review

100

Sheri Linden

Jul 30, 2015

James Ponsoldt's magnificent The End of the Tour gives us two guys talking, and the effect is breathtaking. Read full review

Jeff Baker

Aug 13, 2015

The End of the Tour can feel like a down-home deification at times: Like Einstein riding a bike, only it's Wallace going to the Mall of America. It's not sentimental, though, at least not until the very end, and is moving in beautiful, unexpected ways. Read full review

Peter Travers

Jul 29, 2015

Nothing and everything happen in the movie. Director James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now), working from a fluid script by playwright Donald Margulies, does justice to the book without compromising his film. Read full review

Alonso Duralde

Jul 30, 2015

End of the Tour refrains from depicting the process of writing, but what it has to say about the act of creation, not to mention the act of talking about it to an interviewer, is rich and fascinating. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Aug 12, 2015

Movies about writers can be notorious slogs but, amazingly, The End of the Tour is not one of those films. In fact, it is so much better than any movie based primarily on conversations has any right to be. Read full review

John Semley

Sep 3, 2015

The performances, the writing, the direction, Segel’s D.F.W. impression, everything is just fine. But The End of the Tour is disgraceful. It feels like it’s towing out the real Wallace’s ghost to perform some soppy parody of himself. Read full review

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User Reviews

tristanleungch

Oct 27, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. With an amazing screenplay,beautiful performance by the leading actors and the score. The end of the tour made me could never get bored watching this five-days interview,which i don't wanna end.I tried so hard to hold my tears when i can understand David Foster Wallace's suffering,especially when no one can truly understand him.As well as the moment that David Lipsky realised the importance of this interview.
However,i still couldn't stop dropping tears when the last scene was shown along with the amazing score.I guess i can never understand how relieved and satisfied with the moment when Wallace enjoyed the dance.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

bfoore90

Oct 5, 2016

Literally almost fell in love with this movie almost at first sight. I can't say enough about just how good this movie is and I'm literally kicking myself trying to find out how this gem flew under my radar for the past year. The castings of Jason Segal and Jessie Eisenberg are spot on andLiterally almost fell in love with this movie almost at first sight. I can't say enough about just how good this movie is and I'm literally kicking myself trying to find out how this gem flew under my radar for the past year. The castings of Jason Segal and Jessie Eisenberg are spot on and nail the two David's almost to the T. This was just a really thoughtful and gentle movie that conveyed the sense of the struggle of existence and the friendship beyween David Foster Wallace and David Lipsky.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

NavyBean

Aug 24, 2015

One of the professional reviews stated something to the effect that writers are seldom as interesting as their work (A.O. Scott maybe?) Not sure if this was an intended message of the movie, but it was a big part of it to me.

Us, the viewer, looking for something fascinating aboutOne of the professional reviews stated something to the effect that writers are seldom as interesting as their work (A.O. Scott maybe?) Not sure if this was an intended message of the movie, but it was a big part of it to me.

Us, the viewer, looking for something fascinating about Wallace. The RS reporter holding Wallace's career up as a what he wanted to be. Wallace not wanting to look bad in the RS article. It all seemed so ordinary, so less than fascinating.

When Wallace says "it's not that easy being me" (paraphrase, sorry) isn't that the message we all want to relay to the rest of the world about our own lives?

I thought it was a thoughtful, gentle, intelligent movie that didn't have these great monologues of brilliant writing but conveyed a sense of the simple, universal struggle of existence. I'd see it again.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

smiyamot

Nov 21, 2015

A very good character study of a famous writer and how he chooses to react to the fame that comes his way, and the interviewer, who seeks that fame for himself. Their interaction reveals their feelings about life and how they view themselves, and maybe how we the viewer see ourselves.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Flipje

May 11, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you are a fan of My Dinner with Andre, this might be for you. Jesse Eisenberg plays a journalist travelling to interview Jason Siegel's David Foster Wallace. When the two meet, there is an awkward but amicable chemistry. While the author finishes up the last of his book tour, promoting his magnum opus, Infinite Jest, he and this accompanying journalist weight in on diverse subjects such as fame, relationship, solitude and other philosophies. There are some poignant moments between the two as they veer between sincere comraderie in their interests and belligerent competition in matters of the opposite sex. I was also reminded of Michael Winterbottom's The Trip series/films. A nice story of an unlikely friendship though, I was expecting more about Wallace's psychological difficulties. Between the time of Wallace's publication of his famed novel and his death, there is a sizeable gap and the film makes a passing glance at unveiling some aspects of the author's addictive nature. Considering this was based on a memoir, I appreciate the screenwriters sticking to the main tenets of the story. But at the same time, I also felt in the dark when it came to Wallace's true nature. He's a great character and sometimes, being elusive can spark intrigue, here, I felt let down by not seeing enough of him or getting closer to his heart. Overall, a worthwhile film about an interesting bromance.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

amheretojudge

Jan 22, 2018

he wants more than he has..

The End Of The Tour A small proportion of the movies that are made relies on pure content, conversation or tales and this is definitely one of them. The End Of The Tour is smartly executed but more of the work here is done by the writers and the two lead actorshe wants more than he has..

The End Of The Tour

A small proportion of the movies that are made relies on pure content, conversation or tales and this is definitely one of them. The End Of The Tour is smartly executed but more of the work here is done by the writers and the two lead actors on screen for almost the whole runtime of the movie. But what lacks here is a touch of cinema or a bit of drama too for the audience to not only glued onto the seats but also to root the characters floating around it. Jason is good in his role but Jesse is the key to enrich the soul that The End Of The Tour seeks.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

joekaz

Nov 5, 2016

I could write about 1,000 words on why this film fell flaccidly short of my expectations. I know some writers are 'regular' guys - but Wallace wasn't. I've seen enough of him on Charlie Rose, etc. The movie inexplicably ignored a 'dive' into the mind that wrote the epic Infinite Jest.I could write about 1,000 words on why this film fell flaccidly short of my expectations. I know some writers are 'regular' guys - but Wallace wasn't. I've seen enough of him on Charlie Rose, etc. The movie inexplicably ignored a 'dive' into the mind that wrote the epic Infinite Jest. There's a story about why the book is so big. It's tangential thought. Never discussed. Nor was depression addressed in a smart, or any, way. Both of these true, rich subjects were replaced by talk of women and flirting. Maybe Bret Easton Ellis likes to churn out books to get laid - but I can't, nor refuse to, believe DFW devoted as much of his brain's capacity to such primal, juvenile longings. Before I close, my score is not what it is because I don't care about Wallace and his meandering mind. My score reflects my disappointment for a wasted opportunity. Maybe this film should have been called "Finite Jest." < that's not even funny - but a reminded that EVEN the movies title is as lazy as the movie is. My rating point is strictly is earned only because there is now a film about DFW. Consider it a participation trophy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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