Dallas Buyers Club, 2013.
Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée.
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Steve Zahn Dallas Roberts, Kevin Rankin, Denis O’Hare, Juliet Reeves and Griffin Dunne.
SYNOPSIS:
Diagnosed with HIV and frustrated by bureaucratic red tape, Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) becomes a medical drug dealer for himself and others.
A Texan bull rider and electrician who is literally living the high life ends up in the hospital became of a work related accident; a blood test is taken which reveals shocking information, he has HIV. The diagnoses enrages the patient who declares himself to be no homosexual but the declaration does not change that fact there is he only has a month to live.
There is something as deadly as the terminal disease, all of the F.D.A. regulations which are crippling the ability to test new drugs. Desperate to stay alive Ron Woodroof has a hospital worker slip him drugs but the supply can only last for so long. The solution lies across the border in Mexico where a doctor is using nontoxic drugs; however, the problem is that the medication is not FDA approved.
Woodroof sees a business opportunity and ships his treatment back into America under dubious circumstances. Consequently, a boxing match ensues between the FDA and the man working against the system. For his efforts the electrician eventually succumbs to the disease after living way beyond the predicted month expiry date.
A lot can be said about the leading man losing so much weight for the role but it is only a contributing factor to an overall performance which is guaranteed to receive an Oscar nomination. Jared Leto (Requiem for a Dream) is another cast member who goes through a dramatic appearance transformation and excels as the transvestite business partner. Solid supporting roles are provided by Steve Zahn (Sunshine Cleaning) and Griffin Dunne (After Hours).
Dallas Buyers Club is compelling tale which does justice to the remarkable true story about Ron Woodroof who grabbed the establishment by the horns and took it for a ride.
Flickering Myth Rating: Film ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★ ★ ★
Originally published September 7, 2013. Updated April 14, 2018.
