"The End of the Tour" is a unique, bizarrely intriguing, strangely satisfying , road movie about fame and fortune and the price people pay to achieve it whether or not it's wanted.
It is a movie that really should not work, yet it does.
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(I guess ... spoiler..., but it is by a loose definition, as a plot summary is given in the next few sentences. Also, the framing device of the film is discussed. Additionally, the film is based off of a true story, so the ending shouldn't be shocking. However, that is part of the unique framing device.)
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For 106 minutes we are treated to
"2 guys talking about stuff" and although that title sums up the movie, ''The End of the Tour" also shows that the movie is about "The End".
David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg)
and
David Foster Wallace (Jason Segal)
Are perfectly cast as two real life writers whom are on the final leg of "David Foster Wallace"'s book tour for his over 1000 page tome. "David Lipsky" is the "Rolling Stone" reporter assigned the task of finishing an article on Wallace and the rumors of his heroine addiction.
Over the five day course of the interview both Davids become friends, buds, and enemies.
At times you don't know if they are lying or being too smart for their own good.
That is what makes the story work.
While Lipsky never finishes his article; he eventually turns the notes and tapes into his own book and this memoir ends up as a tour back where the friendship began.
The movie shows this beginning just as it shows the end.
For 106 minutes the two guys are the story. Sure Mamie Gummer. Shows up as an old Wallace friend/groupie, Joan Cusack is in the film to shuttle them to the airport and Mall of America, Anna Chlumsky is the school friend Wallace has, even Mary Tyler Moore has a brief cameo, but otherwise everyone else is an extra and the 2 guys run the show and talk about stuff.
Scenes are even framed to show as much of the two of them as possible. Most of the extraneous "stuff" is edited out of frame.
Extraneous activities like "underwater world" are cut from the film entirely and the depth of frame makes additional skyway scenes almost irrelevant.
All the while instead of guys having fun in the Mall, they do and talk about Stuff that Wallace at times doesn't want to discuss.
They talk about anything from "dog excrement" to "the meaning of a book passage". Each of these conversations has double meanings.
Is Wallace full of "it" or is he the real deal?
Is his book about a heroine trip or additions?
Is Wallace leading a double life?
Is he the normal guy he says he is?
Or is he a "Broken Arrow"?
Would Wallace even want this movie made????
Some of these questions are answered, more are not.
I would offer the answer that Wallace would be passive aggressive and say that he wants the movie "Not to be made", but in his heart actually want it to be made. However, that is just an opinion based off of how he is portrayed in this movie. Which, ironically, conveys exactly what kind of a conundrum he was in real life and unfortunately real.... "THE END".
In the end we get a simple movie about a complex friendship and a man with addictions who was famous, but didn't really want to be and who knows in 3 years that this may not be the case.
The reasons why are known only to him/ Wallace, but this movie is a unique experience and look into the real life addiction of fame and fortune and yet wanting something else.
Alanis Morissette would be proud.
showed as part of #mspiff Picked up smartly for distribution by #A24 whom is on quite a role recently with quality film releases.
Releases July 31, 2015
Also With Amber Danger Johnson, Barbara Berosik, Jake Hinkley, and many others in the Mall of America scenes. A lot of people were cut out due to the depth of frame and perhaps pacing issues with walking around the Mall of America. Although if some of the other extras, like Erica Wyman, Karen Voels, Russell Johnson, myself, and more made the cut, we are only shown in a tiny blimp, or as a small blurry segment and the movie with its focus of 2 characters painting the bigger picture is better for it.
It is a movie that really should not work, yet it does.
----------------------------------------------------------------
(I guess ... spoiler..., but it is by a loose definition, as a plot summary is given in the next few sentences. Also, the framing device of the film is discussed. Additionally, the film is based off of a true story, so the ending shouldn't be shocking. However, that is part of the unique framing device.)
----------------------------------------------------------------
For 106 minutes we are treated to
"2 guys talking about stuff" and although that title sums up the movie, ''The End of the Tour" also shows that the movie is about "The End".
David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg)
and
David Foster Wallace (Jason Segal)
Are perfectly cast as two real life writers whom are on the final leg of "David Foster Wallace"'s book tour for his over 1000 page tome. "David Lipsky" is the "Rolling Stone" reporter assigned the task of finishing an article on Wallace and the rumors of his heroine addiction.
Over the five day course of the interview both Davids become friends, buds, and enemies.
At times you don't know if they are lying or being too smart for their own good.
That is what makes the story work.
While Lipsky never finishes his article; he eventually turns the notes and tapes into his own book and this memoir ends up as a tour back where the friendship began.
The movie shows this beginning just as it shows the end.
For 106 minutes the two guys are the story. Sure Mamie Gummer. Shows up as an old Wallace friend/groupie, Joan Cusack is in the film to shuttle them to the airport and Mall of America, Anna Chlumsky is the school friend Wallace has, even Mary Tyler Moore has a brief cameo, but otherwise everyone else is an extra and the 2 guys run the show and talk about stuff.
Scenes are even framed to show as much of the two of them as possible. Most of the extraneous "stuff" is edited out of frame.
Extraneous activities like "underwater world" are cut from the film entirely and the depth of frame makes additional skyway scenes almost irrelevant.
All the while instead of guys having fun in the Mall, they do and talk about Stuff that Wallace at times doesn't want to discuss.
They talk about anything from "dog excrement" to "the meaning of a book passage". Each of these conversations has double meanings.
Is Wallace full of "it" or is he the real deal?
Is his book about a heroine trip or additions?
Is Wallace leading a double life?
Is he the normal guy he says he is?
Or is he a "Broken Arrow"?
Would Wallace even want this movie made????
Some of these questions are answered, more are not.
I would offer the answer that Wallace would be passive aggressive and say that he wants the movie "Not to be made", but in his heart actually want it to be made. However, that is just an opinion based off of how he is portrayed in this movie. Which, ironically, conveys exactly what kind of a conundrum he was in real life and unfortunately real.... "THE END".
In the end we get a simple movie about a complex friendship and a man with addictions who was famous, but didn't really want to be and who knows in 3 years that this may not be the case.
The reasons why are known only to him/ Wallace, but this movie is a unique experience and look into the real life addiction of fame and fortune and yet wanting something else.
Alanis Morissette would be proud.
showed as part of #mspiff Picked up smartly for distribution by #A24 whom is on quite a role recently with quality film releases.
Releases July 31, 2015
Also With Amber Danger Johnson, Barbara Berosik, Jake Hinkley, and many others in the Mall of America scenes. A lot of people were cut out due to the depth of frame and perhaps pacing issues with walking around the Mall of America. Although if some of the other extras, like Erica Wyman, Karen Voels, Russell Johnson, myself, and more made the cut, we are only shown in a tiny blimp, or as a small blurry segment and the movie with its focus of 2 characters painting the bigger picture is better for it.