The END of the TOUR Film-Based on David Lipsky's Interviews with David Foster Wallace

The erudite and entertaining film, The END of the TOUR is a verbose interchange of intellect between acclaimed author David Foster Wallace & writer/journalist David Lipsky.  The film written by NYTimes' best-selling author Lipsky, is done in flashback from the night of Wallace's suicide in 2008 to 12 years earlier. Lipsky spent several days taping & entrapping Wallace for the 1st ROLLING STONE interview of a writer.  Wallace is an acclaimed writer & writing prof. who is affable & awkward.  Lipsky argued to obtain the interview and he comes off as bombastic and self-serving.  Wallace is played by Jeff Segel (How I Met Your Mother) in an Oscar worthy performance that is provocative and sympathetic.  Jessie Eisenberg is cast in the role of David Lipsky the ROLLING STONE writer who seeks notoriety from and insight into the genius of Wallace.  Dir. James Ponsoldt (The SPECTACULAR NOW) does a brilliant job keeping us interested in a cat & mouse game between 2 acclaimed writers although only Lipsky appears disingenuous and opportunistic. The cinematography captures the look of midwest, small towns in mid-winter. The budding bromance is fraught with frigid moments and ice-breaking, honest revelations.  Segel may have jumped started his  movie career while Eisenberg seems stuck in the same petulant, pouting performance.  Joan Cusack's cameo role as the consummate midwesterner is hilarious.  Still, this is a dynamic drama that draws on a lot of raw human emotions.  The END of the TOUR should pique an interest in both the writings of Wallace and Lipsky.  It is an engaging film from beginning to end.