IFF Boston Review: In 'The End of the Tour' Jason Segel Impresses as Author David Foster Wallace
Wesley Emblidge ’17 / Emertainment Monthly Executive Editor
The film is at its most interesting when the screenplay (adapted from Lipsky’s book by Donald Margulies) hones in on the tensions between the two of them as writers, but different kinds, and how Lipsky aspires to be like Wallace and how uncomfortable that makes both of them. There’s a lot more explored than that, but as a result the film is never able to go as in-depth as one might like about any of its subjects, and moreover gives a broad overview of Wallace’s thoughts on many different ones.
Director James Ponsoldt (Smashed, The Spectacular Now) seems to be finding himself as more of an actor’s director than much of a visual stylist. The film is at times almost shot like a documentary, just letting these two talk, and it’s a testament to their talent that it’s all so compelling. Segel really inhabits Wallace, and once you realize this it doesn’t feel at all like stunt casting but just the perfect casting. There’s a loneliness and sadness to Wallace that he captures really nicely, though Eisenberg completely holds his own as well up against him. The End of the Tour is at its best when these actors get to just work, and luckily that’s most of what Ponsoldt and Margulies give us.
Overall Grade: B
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