Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club is the latest step in the ongoing McConaissance and is looking to be the one that will gain the man, once famous for leaning on his co-stars on the side of buses, that coveted Academy Award.  Directed by Jean Marc Vallee it is a movie that has been a long time coming, with names such as Woody Harrelson having previously been attached to it.

The film tells the true story of Ron Woodroof (McConaughey) a rodeo cowboy who is also a sexist, homophobic and just a generally horrible human being.  He goes on contract AIDs, due to having unprotected sex, and despite his claims that it can’t be true, due to not being a “faggot”, is left with a suspected thirty days to live.  When his health deteriorates and he is forced to face his own mortality he comes up against the American pharmaceutical system, which prevents him from getting the drugs he believes he needs to survive.  In a last ditch attempt he goes over the border to Mexico where he discovers the drugs that the American system are looking at may be doing more harm than good and in Mexico there is a whole treasure trove of substances that could actually help extend his life.  Seeing an opportunity he makes a deal with the Mexican doctor to take the drugs over the border and set up a Buyer’s club, negating any legal issues, as people pay to become a member and receive their medication for free.

It’s an incredibly interesting story and one that a bit of research suggests was more common than you might believe.  While McConaughey smashes any doubt about his acting chops to pieces.  It’s not only the well documented weight loss (which is shocking when you first see it) but also his complete embodiment of the character that is astonishing.  You feel like he has truly gone through this journey and as his attitude softens to those he once hated, a move helped by Jared Leto’s character a transgender women by the name of Raymona, you can’t help but gain affection for him, despite all his very obvious flaws.  It also has to be said that, despite my personal dislike for the over inflated ego of the man, Leto is sublime.  Taking a character that could have easily just become a piece of background furniture filled with stereotypes, and instead managing to make her a warm, troubled human being who you can’t help but love.  While a similar compliment can be paid to Jennifer Garner who could have easily hidden in the background as the love interest/concerned nurse, but instead stands out and makes her character feel important and vital.

This is not an easy watching movie.  It will make you want to pull your hair out in frustration at the at the American Food and Drug Administration as they stand in the way of people attempting to save their own lives.  While the sight of the numerous AIDs victims struggling under the burden of their illness is never going to be fun.  However, underneath that this is a movie filled with a good message.  Woodroof changes because of his experiences, and while it’s difficult to say he is ever a truly great man, he definitely becomes at least a bit of a good one and it’s hard not to feel uplifted by that.  It has to be said that the movie itself maybe never quite lives up to it’s performances, there is nothing to make it stand out beside the actual story itself, but when you have two central performances like that of McConaughey and Leto it still makes this a must see.