The End of the Tour
Short description
The End of the Tour dramatizes the five days journalist David Lipsky spent with writer David Foster Wallace in 1996, shortly after the publication of Wallace's novel Infinite Jest. Sent by Rolling Stone to profile the author, Lipsky travels with him on the final stops of his book tour. Over their time together, the two men develop an uneasy intimacy that goes beyond a standard interview, touching on ambition, fame and loneliness. The resulting article was never published, and the recordings of their conversations were set aside.
James Ponsoldt directed the film, which sits between The Spectacular Now (2013) and The Circle (2017) in his filmography. Donald Margulies wrote the screenplay, and the cast is led by Jason Segel as Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg as Lipsky, with supporting turns from Mamie Gummer, Mickey Sumner and Anna Chlumsky. Produced by Anonymous Content, Kilburn Media and Modern Man Films, the film earned roughly 3 million dollars worldwide.
Reception was strongest among critics, whose rating stands at 8 out of 10 across 160 reviews. Audiences were warmer than merely approving rather than enthusiastic: on IMDb the film holds 7.2 out of 10 from about 35,000 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 7 out of 10 from roughly 630 votes, a small sample that limits how much weight those viewer scores can carry.
What's left behind the scenes
- In scenes at Wallace's house, played by Jason Segel, meat was stuffed into their pants for him and Lipsky, as portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg, to make the dogs circle around them. In scenes where Lipsky is woken up by dogs, the actor's face was smeared with peanut butter to attract them.
- American writer David Foster Wallace (1962-2008) spent most of his life in Bloomington, Illinois, but scenes at his home were filmed in Michigan.
- Screenwriter Donald Margulis taught James Ponsoldt in college while the future director was a student there.
- This is Donald Margulis's first screenplay. Previously, he had worked extensively and actively in television. It is also Margulis's first film as an executive producer.
- Filming began on February 19, 2014, and took place in Grand Rapids for five weeks. In March of the same year, some scenes were shot in Minneapolis.
- The main characters watch John Woo's "Broken Arrow" in a movie theater.
- There's a scene at Wallace's house where Wallace meets Lipski. Actors Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg met that day right before going on set.
- The film is based on the book by Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky, *Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself*, which recounts a five-day interview with David Foster Wallace during a tour organized in support of the novel *Infinite Jest* (1996). The tapes Lipsky made during the interview play a significant role in the plot, however, the actors and crew generally used them only as a source of information about the characters.
- The film's script appeared on the so-called “Black List” of 2013 – a list of the most promising, but unrealized scripts.
- The women with whom Wallace and Lipsky spend time in Minnesota are played by daughters of celebrities. Julia was played by Mary Willa “Mamie” Gummer (daughter of Meryl Streep), and Betsy was played by Bridget Michael “Micky” Sumner (one of Sting's daughters).
- Throughout the film, a certain “Jenn” is mentioned. For example, at the beginning of the interview, Wallace asks “What does Jenn want?”, and says when Lipsky leaves: “Say hello to Jenn for me.” This refers to Jann S. Wenner, one of the founders and the chief editor of Rolling Stone magazine.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
