Rent Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Go Ron - Dallas Buyers Club review by LS

This was a really good film, I was slightly apprehensive that it would be depressing, but it's not, leads were great, especially the guys.

Watch it , that's my advice.

Wow, an enlightened performance - Dallas Buyers Club review by CM

Mathew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof, Rodeo texas cowboy, the film starts with a somewhat hedonistic feel, sex, drugs, rock and - roll.

Towards the end McConaughey leads a graceful journey into the American drug administration authority. This 1980's HIV infected rodeo, makes an educated move to challenge his 30 day prognosis.

Set in the 1980' s at the start of the HIV pandemic's in America

The buyers club is based on true story, of human collective to get vital treatments, from Israel - Mexico Ron gains an increasing foothold on the then knowledge, beyond AZT Ron finds a solution, hospital clinical trials fail to fully address the disease.

Jared plays alongside; a HIV infected transgender intravenous drug user, and unlikely partnership

Together they tackle issues of prejudice traller trash, class sexuality and ignorance.

Gardner leads graceful performance as a Doctor, researching HIV treatment trials.

A fantastic cast, the physical transformations are huge, McConaughey and Jared aces at a creditable performance.

This a good movie - Dallas Buyers Club review by CS

Oscar winning performance from Matthew and although AIDS being a serious subject some humour to lighten the story. Found it held my interest for the full 2 hours. Would recommend.

Staggering performances power this hopeful, funny & also angry film about the AIDS pandemic - Dallas Buyers Club review by TB

In the mid 2000's, Matthew McConaughey was the go-to guy for rom-coms, starring in multiple highly successful movies. But then, by his own admission, he deliberately stepped back from Hollywood and that genre of film. It's easy to see why: when he first became an actor, he starred in a massive number of different genres. And then when he found his niche, he settled into it, just churning out the same clichéd romantic sap, which whilst it wasn't critically acclaimed, did pay the bills. So he wanted a clean slate and to get back to his routes. When, to quote him again, the phone started ringing again after a nearly 2 year hiatus, this was one of the first scripts that came his way.

The story of Ron Woodruff is in many ways so outrageous, outlandish & crazy, you are amazed to find out it is largely true and also that it hadn't been made into a film earlier. But it is also a movie with enormous heart, soul & emotion. And the cast absolutely rise to the challenge. The other elephant in the room that I want to deal with is that this film made headlines due to the enormous amounts of weight McConaughey & Leto lost in preparation for their roles. But this is so much more than just another vanity project for actors wanting to jumpstart their careers again (which this film emphatically is not.)

In the mid-80's, Ron Woodruff is a spit-and-sawdust roughneck Texan electrician, who in the opening shots is shown hiding in a bull riding pen banging the brains out of two enthusiastic women. Woodruff is the stereotypical Yank: hard drinking, drug using, hyper-sexed life & soul of the party. He is also deeply homophobic, racist, sexist & xenophobic. Following an industrial accident which puts him in hospital, he wakes up to be told that he is HIV positive & has 30 days to live. Initially rejecting this, eventually as his health rapidly deteriorates, he starts to look at alternative medicine which whilst in use in other countries, are not authorised for sale in the US. However, due to a legal technicality, he is able to start a "Buyers Club" where people pay for membership & the drugs are given "free."

The story then becomes an incredible tale showing the battle Woodruff had not only with the government but also the medical bodies who were determined to thwart him, despite the staggering results & successes he had. For example, the treatments & drugs he provided had one-tenth the death rate of hospital care. Along the way, he also teams up with a transgender woman called Rayon who then becomes his business partner, as well as a friend & practically a wife, in terms of the level of bickering between them.

This film would live or die on its performances, but this are without question the best of both actors careers. McConaughey is stunning, the weight he has lost turning him from a muscle-stacked alpha-male into a scared & cowed man who then comes out fighting. Leto, who is even thinner, plays Rayon pretty much the same, but with the added determination of a person who has already had everything life could throw at her & now gives everything to surviving as long as possible & supporting her friends. Jennifer Garner's composite character fares less well, but she still does amazing work with what she has.

This film is an inspirational joy, made even more remarkable by its tiny, nano-budget, which was so small that the wardrobe budget was only a few hundred dollars. It makes you laugh, cringe, cry; everything a masterpiece can do. And the spirit of the characters shines through. This is incredible work, brilliantly marshalled by Jean-Marc Valleé, resulting in Oscars for McConaughey & Leto. I loved this film and you will too. A magnificent celebration of courage & sheer grit when all the odds are stacked against you.