Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club

It’s 1985 in Dallas and the shock news has just hit that matinee idol, Rock Hudson, has died of AIDs. This sets the scene for drug fuelled electrician cum rodeo rider Ron Woodroof, played by Matthew McConaughey who gives the performance of his career, and Woodroof’s own battle with AIDS and the FDA.

McConaughey is almost unrecognizable, having lost close to 50 pounds for the film. Resembling a scooped out version of Dennis Weaver, he excels in every aspect of the role. Starting out as the trailer trash homophobe, mellowing with AIDS, coming to terms with cross-dresser Rayon (superbly played by Jared Leto) and then establishing the Dallas Buyers Club to distribute non FDA approved AIDS medication.  You can’t help wonder how an actor, who can deliver a performance like this and is a serious contender for Best Actor in the Oscars, spent so much time drowning in rom coms – even if it was superior drowning. Jared Leto also deserves to be taking home a statuette, for Best Supporting Actor. His portrayal, with shades of William Hurt’s Oscar winning role in “Kiss of the Spider Woman”, is wonderfully touching.

The film is pacey and your attention is definitely held even though the lines could have been a bit punchier – especially when you consider the subject matter. But it doesn’t matter  – McConaughey is on screen for nearly all of the 117 minutes and when Leto joins him you are entertained to a double whammy of tremendous acting.