Release Date: February 7th 2014
In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is himself diagnosed with the disease.
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee (The Young Victoria)
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
What Dallas Buyers Club shows, to a younger audience especially, is the ability to be in a world where the unknown is not just frightening, but something to repel against. For Ron Woodroof (McConaughey), being told he has 30 days to live after contracting HIV is a joke. After rejecting this possibility, Ron subsequently ignores the advice given to him, and tries to lead the same life of binge drinking, snorting cocaine and sexual activities.
DBC fixates on Ron's personal life and those around him. In the minds of everyone in the 80's anyone with HIV or AIDS is seen to have had homosexual activity. Being such a taboo in this time (nothing like it is now), it's difficult to accept the hate that Ron takes. We accept Ron for who he is, as under circumstances, who knows how we'd react.
Soon Ron realises that he's very unwell and needs to act swiftly. In order to get the correct medication for both himself and others, Ron travels to various countries to get what he needs. 'It's not illegal, it's merely unapproved'.
Ron is met by cross-dresser Rayon (Leto) who's also suffering from HIV. Rayon is the sweet hospitable type to Ron's sour hostility. Both lead and supporting actors are admirable. Their performances are so real and enthralling and the work they've put in may be distressing for them (at least for one of them) but aesthetically pleasing for us.
It's a surprise to hear that McConaughey and Leto didn't see eye to eye during production because it doesn't show in the final cut. Leto, as a method actor, stayed in character as often as he could, whilst Matthew McConaughey shed almost 3st 7lbs to portray Woodroof. It's clear that McCanoughey and Leto are in the lead to receive Oscars for their roles.
Overview: A true story that's ambitious and full of inspiration. Dallas Buyers Club is very insightful and teaches its audience a lot about the outbreak of AIDS in the 80's.
Really looking forward to this one. I'm planning to see it after I've seen Mud (2012).
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Matthew McConaughey has really developed into a talented actor. His brief performance in The Wolf of Wall Street was very well accomplished and he stole all the scenes he was in.