Review of The End of the Tour (2015) by Cole J — 16 Aug 2015

With The Spectacular Now, one of 2013's best films, and now The End of the Tour, one of 2015's best, James Ponsoldt solidifies himself as one of today's most exciting filmmakers. Both films showcase Ponsoldt's ability to connect emotionally with his audience through the depth he pulls from his characters. It's almost a purely conversational movie, but it's exciting for it's insight and humanity.

Although "Tour" is almost entirely conversation, it nonetheless deserves to be a film, not just on paper. Ponsoldt and his cinematographer highlight the white, bare, and snowy Illinois. Much like the feeling of the film, the lighting is simultaneously bright and dull, uplifting and depressing. But more crucial is how the two leads come alive on screen thanks to sensitive direction and fantastic lead performances.

Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg are the anchors of the film, representing acting at its very finest. Every line of dialogue from Jason Segel is delivered with sincerity, where we really feel like we are getting to know Wallace through a complex performance that is no less than transformative. He's an extremely memorable and rounded character, with his depression, insightfulness, regularity, addiction to television, insecurity, and faint joy surfacing through Segel's performance. Jesse Eisenberg is awkward and a bit nerdy like other roles he's played, but his performance here goes far beyond that. The sadness he wears on his face as the two characters conflict brings a new layer to his character and the film itself.

Much like Richard Linklater's fantastic "Before" trilogy, the film is mostly heavy dialogue between two characters, but it's full of intriguing conceptual ideas and philosophies that make it really involving. The two discuss entertainment, depression, emptiness, success, ordinariness, the American dream, and more. How audiences piece together and interprets these ideas will certainly vary, and makes for great re-watchability and discussion.

What should be constant for everyone, however, is the liveliness of conversation, of getting to really know someone, of minds feeding off of each other. Watching the film, we feel the life of human interaction. Whether it's the truth behind their profound conversations or just the sheer humanity, it's hard not to feel moved after watching The End of the Tour.