It restores a piece of your soul

Rating: 10/10 (7 December 2013)

A friend of mine told me today that the film had made quite an impact on him, and I couldn't agree with him anymore if I tried. It did move me quite a bit, too because it did something very few films are able to achieve: to tell a story with honesty, without flashy effects, distracting cinematography or editing tricks. This one focused on the story, the acting, and the message.
Most of the credit should go to the two leading actors. Both Matthew and Jared are sensational, combining their drastic transformations to portray the characters as realistic as possible, but no make up or gimmickry would have worked if it hadn't been because these two gentlemen poured their souls into the project. They channeled the entire range of emotions that must have existed in those two extraordinary individuals. Both were flawed human beings who recognized their differences and similarities, who sought the best in the other, and who tried hard to make a difference while living under very difficult conditions.
The story deals with a man who tries at first to come up with a way to survive, only to realize there is a market in the suffering of others, but unlike the establishment that he ends up fighting, he discovers his soul aches when he realizes that profits sometimes result in more pain or even death. He learns to understand that the differences in perception are the result of the environment we're raised in, that we will never understand the others unless we walk in their shoes. He also realizes that there is blood money involved, and that the money gods are indeed difficult to resist or conquer.
Here is an extraordinary man who is given a month to get his affairs in order and ends up surviving nearly eight years, dealing with his own handicaps and all the other obstacles he encounters as he first saves himself, saves others, and tries to tell the world that there might be a way to stop many from dying, but this might prove to be too much of a battle.
It is a moving story that will hit you hard because it hides very little. Rayon is a particularly heartbreaking character, with sad eyes that shine with hope, yet are clouded by the horrific realization that death is around the corner. His scene with his father is shattering, and his interactions with his partner will make believe that there is always room for hope and love. The story presents everyone without portraying anyone as special, perfect, but as real people with real problems and real pain.
"Dallas Buyers Club" might start as a cynical and hard film to watch, but it does earn one's respect, admiration, and most importantly love. There is still hope for Hollywood to find real gems in the middle of the artificiality that we so often encounter.