The Dallas Buyers Club Delivers the Goods

Rating: 10/10 (16 December 2013)

Can a narcissistic, homophobic, drug addicted, gambling sex addict, and chain smoker make a positive difference through lying and skirting the law? In "The Dallas Buyers Club", Ron Woodroof does just that. Sure, he's in it for himself, sure he has little or no respect for the members of his buyers club, but through months of contact and shared life tragedy, he begins to care for others, despite himself.
His is not a transformation of Biblical proportions. Woodroof is a man who learns first hand what it means to navigate the medical system and deal with the FDA, who is the big villain in the movie, near the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. He may be a homophobe, but he hates the government more and learns to sympathize with gay men, at least in regards to healthcare.
His career and his upbringing have taught him that women are for sex, period, and his macho hereto-posturing influences his homophobic reactions in the movie. However, that homophobia gets played back at him as people learn he has AIDS. Jared Leto is excellent as Rayon, a club member and gay sidekick to Ron. His character might be a bit twisted, ala Devine, for the Academy. But he should get an Oscar nomination. As will Matthew McConaguhey. If it wasn't for Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance as the sympathetic Solomon Northup in "12 Years a Slave", McConaguhey would have a good chance at an Oscar. In many ways his performance was harder, more multidimensional and complicated then Ejiofor's. This is a year when two performers could win and would be deserving. But the character of Ron Woodroof is despicable in so many ways (and why I think McConaguhey was so good) that the academy can't give it to him. Besides, Mr. Ejiofor is also Oscar worthy.
It was nice to see McConaguhey play another serious role after almost throwing away his talent on terrible romantic comedies (as opposed to the few decent ones, like "The Notebook"). Speaking of careers ruined by their good looks, Jennifer Garner doesn't suck in this movie. She is adequate as Dr. Saks and she doesn't sleep with the main character in this movie. Congreatulations. Perhaps these two handsome stars can do some serious drama or better written more complicated romantic movies. That would be good for us all.
Rating: Pay full price, see it twice.
Peace, Tex Shelters