100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 129: Dallas Buyers Club

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 117 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Steve Zahn, Denis O’Hare, Dallas Roberts, Kevin Rankin, Steffie Grote, Griffin Dune, Jeanine Hill, Jane McNeill, Juliet Reeves, Michael O’Neill, James DuMont, J.D. Evermore, Heather Ashley Boyd, Douglas M. Griffin, Deneen Tyler

Description: In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is himself diagnosed with the disease.

Review: Matthew McConaughey in a biopic about a Texan electrician with HIV; the end result is just as astounding as the concept. It took director Jean-Marc Valée 20 years before he could start filming. He did it in 25 days.

The American Ron Woodroof fought against a medical system in the eighties. The pharmaceutical industry had control and produced medication to fight the aids crisis. It turned out to be harmful medication. Woodroof, diagnosed with HIV, took matters into his own hands. He started an illegal ‘Buyers Club’, where people could get life extending medication.

In 1992 Craig Borten wrote the first script with the help from interviews. Woodroof died that same year. After twenty years Jean-Marc Vallée got a budget of 3 million and gave Matthew McConaughey the lead role. A daring choice? Indeed. The wrong choice? Definitely not. His famous charmes are gone and he lost around 40 pound fort his role. McConaughey, born in Texas, gives his all. It’s his attitude that make his role so moving. You get a lot of sympathy for his character.

The second performance that really impressed was by Jared Leto. Transformed into transsexual Rayon, he starved himself, waxed his legs, shaved his eyebrows and in thedays of shooting never stepped out of character.

The result is a beautiful montage, with pace. The ending could be a bit more powerful, because that never really sticks. “Dallas Buyers Club” is an energetic film, with a great cast. A definite must-see.

Rating: 4/ 5