Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club tells the story of Ron Woodroof, an electrician and rodeo rider, who after being hurt in a work based accident, is told that he has HIV. At first angry and constantly denying the facts and possibility that he does have it, he begins to research the drug he is being given, AZT. But as controversy begins to build over the drug, Ron sets up his own clinic, where people can treat themselves with seemingly better medication.

Matthew McConaughey continues his resurgence of the last few years here with another stand out performance. The most noticeable thing part of his performance is the weight that he lost for this role, losing a lot of the muscle that we come to expect of him, reducing himself to gangly and frail looking man.

But beyond the physical transformation, as with Christian Bale in American Hustle, there is a lot to take from the character. We start with the hyper masculine Texan who looks down and jokes about homosexuals, to a man who through his work comes into contact and gets to know countless gay men, one of which becomes in a way his best friend.

It is a performance centred on change, but more than the usual predictable arc, we see Ron physically change for the worse, but becomes more understanding and caring in his personality. From a forgettable rodeo and womanizer to a man who did everything he could to improve the lives of many strangers.

Playing a character like Rayon, a transvestite/transsexual male hooker, it would be very easy to swing for the fences and go really big. But it shows Jared Leto’s restraint and understanding of the character that he plays it small and restrained. We can physically see the pain and confusion that he suffers in the way he moves and his actions. Leto tries to keep the characters pain hidden with his drug use and humour, but with every joke or line the character continues to unravel.

One of the most interesting parts of the film is Ron’s battle with the FDA, who have made a deal with manufacturers of AZT to push it as the sole cure/treatment for HIV. The FDA confiscates or bans the import or use of drugs that are proven to help sufferers in other countries. More of this subplot would have been interesting to me anyway and I would have loved to see it explained further, although it would have threatened to overshadow Ron’s personal story and we may have ended up with something like Traffic

If I have one criticism of Dallas Buyers Club, which in itself if a stretch, it’s that I feel it could have done to have been five minutes shorter, especially in it’s final act. No, I don’t know what scenes or shots should have been cut, but being a bit leaner would have certainly helped the film for me.

It may not getting the praise as a film, but for the two main performances it’s quality is undeniable and real rollercoaster of a story about man who did what he could for himself and complete strangers a like.

Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Writer: Craig Borten Melisa Wallack