A brilliantly acted bio-pic

Rating: 8/10 (4 February 2014)

Matthew McConaughey used to be the butt of many jokes: but in recent years he has had an acting resurgence in recent years, earning himself an Oscar nomination for Dallas Buyers Club, being considered one of the leading contenders. Dallas Buyers Club is a very compelling film about Ron Woodroof, a homophobic, yet intelligent redneck who is diagnosed with AIDS and has only 30 days to live. But after taking an experimental drug, AZT, actually makes his health worst he ends up taking an alternative course of treatment in Mexico, leading Woodroof to import drugs into America which are not approved by the FDA and selling memberships for a Buyers Club which he would give AIDS sufferers alternative drugs. But as AZT makes sufferers worst, the DEA and FDA targets Woodroof and his Buyers Club.
Dallas Buyers Club is a superbly acted film, deserving of the nominations McConaughey and Jared Leto have received. Both were excellent and believable as they display raw emotions and go through a physical and mental change during the film. Woodroof goes through a journey of enlightenment as views and motives have changed. Jennifer Garner too was excellent in the film as a doctor who supports Woodroof and Rayon (Leto) and it is a shame she has not received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Director Jean-Marc Vallee and writers Craig Borton and Melisa Wallack do an excellent job at showcasing the period and culture of the time, showing the rampant homophobia and lack of understanding about HIV and AIDS with people thinking only gay people catch the disease and people can catch the disease in the most minor way possible. They show Woodroof's alienation and rejection from his friends and having to start again because of the culture he lived in. Vallee uses TV news reports to get effect at showing the wider picture involving the approval of drugs and how AIDS sufferers were protesting the FDAs feet dragging.
Vallee lets performances play out naturally by using a hand-held approach and following actors in long takes, using cuts appropriately. But I do think he was a little lazy at overusing a technique of playing a loud high-pitch noise and smash cutting to black when something really bad or emotional happened.
There were some fictional element but the film does felt authentic about the drama and the world it portrayed, getting many details right. But by the third act the film felt a little rushed and if I have to nitpick it felt a bit too convenient that Woodroof's cop friend was around for police raids and for dramatic moments.
Dallas Buyers Club is a brilliantly acted, compelling drama that is worth checking out.