Sundance Review: James Ponsoldt’s ‘The End Of The Tour’ Starring Jason Segel & Jesse Eisenberg

Recreating a special moment in time, and the essence of momentous occasions in one’s life, is a difficult task. Capturing what’s supposed to be a special, life-changing five-day conversation between two men, artists and writers, secondhand (thirdhand, even) is even tougher. James Ponsoldt’s “The End Of The Tour” — a film about a Rolling Stone journalist shadowing author David Foster Wallace for a profile piece on the renowned writer — doesn’t seem like much of a movie on paper. In fact, it feels like a play. At first, the unassuming picture doesn’t seem like it has enough compelling reasons to justify its existence. But as it begins to open up, build a head full of steam, and really click the way the two protagonists do, “The End Of The Tour” becomes and incredibly winning and engaging portrait of friendship, lasting connection, mutual understanding, and much more.

In what is easily a career best performance, Jason Segel plays the bandana-wearing conflicted genius David Foster...