I’ve never read David Foster Wallace’s work (yet), but you needn’t have in order to dive deep into the new movie about his interview by Rolling Stone’s David Lipsky, who spent several days with the author while Wallace wrapped up his book tour on the heels of publishing Infinite Jest in 1996. After Wallace’s suicide in 2008, Lipsky wrote his book, Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace, and it’s that story, the one of their time together, that provides the movie’s structure.
As Lipsky grows into his role as writer and journalist, the film also shows a deep darkness lurking inside of the reclusive, nervous Wallace, an impatience with society and a distrust of many. He’s a pained man, but clearly creative and gifted. His insight reflects an understanding on a level few reach, a level, though, that sometimes is shadowed more by the clouds over Wallace’s mind than illuminated by the brilliant rays of sunlight that make their way through those clouds through his writing.
The cast and their performances take this film to a higher level than merely a look at two quirky souls whose paths cross. Wallace is played by Jason Segel, a role that will be a career turning point for this actor better known for his role in How I Met Your Mother and other big-screen comedies. (Remember the recent Muppet movie?) After watching the film, I listened to an old interview with Wallace; what a remarkable portrayal Segel provides. He perfectly nails the nuances of Wallace’s character that come through in his voice, his intonations, his inflections, and especially, his pauses. Now the words Oscar and Segel are being used in the same sentence, and for good reason.
The rest of the cast builds a wonderful stage around Segel. Jesse Eisenberg plays Lipsky, and although, as my movie companion pointed out, this is a typical nerdy-esque role in which we’ve seen Eisenberg before, this role has just a bit more substance for this still-budding actor. Joan Cusack rounds things out in a small part driving the two around Minneapolis for Wallace’s book tour there.
I wasn’t exactly reading remarkable fiction in 1996. And even though my reading subjects have now matured some (at least on an overall aspect), I’m not sure I’m ready yet for Wallace’s tome of a novel that was his great work and central to this film. But I’m definitely intrigued.
The movie is soft and quiet; it won’t appeal to all. But if you’re at all sparked by reading these reflections, I encourage you to see it. The subtleties of the context of the interactions between these two men show so much deeper meaning as each man grows and learns from the other. I suspect the few days together meant more to Lipsky than to Wallace. Regardless, those days and interactions are beautiful to view—to witness that portrayal of artist and inquiring, of talent and longing, of curiosity and learning, all of those things as shown through both men.