When I mention DALLAS BUYERS CLUB to someone, the first thing out of their mouth usually involves Matthew McConaughey’s tremendous weight loss for his starring role…
But after they’ve seen it they’ll most likely by praising his performance in the film—arguably the most powerful and challenging of his career.
A BEST ACTOR nomination here is a sure bet.
What we’ve got here is a fact-based drama about redneck Texas electrician Ron Woodroof.
“Woody’ is a good old boy. Loves his women—and how!”
Drinks plenty of beer. Always parties hardy.
Oh, and he’s a straight as an arrow homophobe.
That is until he’s diagnosed HIV-positive and given 30 days to live.
Now what?
Woody grabs onto U.S. restricted treatments in Mexico which has him bouncing back and forth. And he smuggles some of these non-toxic alternative medications back into the United States and starts distributing them to others in similar predicaments.
However fighting off the medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies and especially the F.D.A. and I.R.S. is a tough balancing act.
That’s when he comes up with a brilliant idea!
He turns his own fight for life and death battle into a thriving business that may just work.
He calls it the Dallas Buyers Club.
He sells memberships to his club and in return members then receive the unapproved supplements free of charge.
Kinda like during the old Kansas days when you paid to join a private club to get a drink that you actually brought with you.
Well, maybe not.
Watching McConaughey go through his devastating periods of denial and beyond are something to behold. He’s a rowdy tough Texan brought to his knees…almost.
Another Oscar worthy performance here is by Jared Leto playing a transsexual who eventually partners with McConaughey in the enterprise. And Jennifer Garner as the doctor who comes to respect this reckless roughneck electrician and cowboy’s incredible fortitude and determination.
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB is often a hard movie to watch.
But just wait until you’ve seen it.
It opens here this weekend in limited runs and grades a strong B.
(Reviewed at Glenwood Arts Theatre)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on KMBZ FM & AM / Also anytime on Time Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.
don’t get it jack… you praise it then give it a ‘B’. why? where’s it fall short?
Good observation, Mike. I think it’s a first class picture. (…Ok, maybe a first class- film.) When it comes to scoring I evaluate the entire ‘package.’ This one in my opinion isn’t a 5 on a 1 to 5 scale—or an A on an A to F scoring system.
….Call it ‘gut feel.’
But it’s something I struggle with every time I rate a film.