Both fascinating and horrifying, but ultimately flawed in its execution...

Rating: 8/10 (11 February 2014)

It's Oscar season, and therefore biopic season. So far this Oscar season, I've seen the two true stories: "12 Years a Slave" and "Captain Phillips", both told in extremely different ways. One is a subtle and frequently brutal drama, the other is a gripping thriller. So add to this line up "Dallas Buyers Club", a heartfelt, occasionally witty drama about a man who is suffering from AIDS and decides to make some money out of curing the disease. It's an odd set of films to say the very least, and I'm not entirely sure whether this really fits in there. It is both fascinating and horrifying at times, but is ultimately flawed in its execution.
Matthew McConaghey stars as Ron Woodruff, a foul and debauched rodeo cowboy, who suddenly discovers that he is suffering from HIV/AIDS and is given 30 days to live. Unhappy with the medicine available and its effects, he decides to import foreign drugs illegally for both his own personal use, and to sell to others for profit. The man is clearly a genius, constantly finding loopholes and managing to keep the business going, saving a great number of lives. His friendship with Rayon, played by a cross-dressing Jared Leto, is the most interesting part of the film, since Woodruff is originally extremely homophobic and hates the association he gets with the gay people he is saving. He eventually becomes a great friend to Rayon, and their closeness as friends becomes very apparent towards the film's ending.
The performances in the film are stunning, and it is not just McConaghey's weight loss that needs commenting on, even though it is absolutely incredible. Woodruff is portrayed as the perfect anti-hero, saving people's lives but originally for the wrong reasons. I couldn't help but be reminded of Oskar Schindler, a business man like Woodruff who realised his power and saved thousands of Jews. However Woodruff is far more, because he is originally completely foul and offensive to the people that he would eventually go on to save. Jennifer Garner gives undoubtedly the best performance I have ever seen her in, and there is a scene that I don't want to spoil towards the film's end which is completely believable and heartfelt on her part.
Despite all of these great things the film does have its flaws, and like so many films these days, the running time is the main problem. It lasts just under 2 hours, and drags at times where not a lot is happening. The best parts of the film are the more interesting exchanges, and when the plot is static and we're not learning anything new, it feels overly padded. I didn't come out of the film feeling like I'd just experienced an incredible film, but just an interesting story with good characters and fine acting. A small part of me feels cheated that this is up for Best Picture, but "Inside Llewyn Davis" isn't.
But these are merely initial reactions to what was on the whole an enjoyable film, and I do recommend it anyway, if only because Matthew McConaghey's performance is one of his finest, and it's an interesting look into one small part of such a poorly documented time in modern American history.