Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 11/29/13

Reviewed 12/6/13 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Matthew McConaughey lost a lot of weight for this role and boy does he need to put it back on. Although he wasn't playing Mr. Heartthrob by any stretch. On the contrary, he was a wild rodeo hand who was loose and non-disceerning in his partners and as a result contracts AIDS. Dallas Buyers Club is a biographical drama, but now and then McConaughey lends some comedic talents to this otherwise serious topic. This helped us like the movie more, although it was very monotonous through the middle stretch which forced me to knock the Quality rating down a bit.

This movie is a loose adaptation of true life risk taker Ron Woodruff (McConaughey). In 1985 at the height of the discriminating AIDS epidemic, he learns from Dr. Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner) and Dr. Sevard (Dennis O'Hare) that due to his diagnosis he has 30 days to live. Which wouldn't be so far off in the mid-80s. He could just wait around and die but he decides to be aggressive and take this into his own hands. Access to drugs in drug trials were preventing Ron from getting the medicine he believed he needed so he hatches a half-baked plan. He learns of experimental drugs that he can obtain from Mexico. While illegal in the U.S., the drugs are not that difficult to bring in. Thus, the Dallas Buyers Club is formed. He provides access to illegal drugs to all that can get to him, but the catch is a $400 yearly club membership. Word gets out and they line up and down around the corner. It doesn't take long for the DEA to be on to Woodruff and they attempt to do everything within their power to shut him down. Even though people are getting better, feeling better and lives are prolonged - illegal is illegal.

He strikes up an unusual friendship with Rayon (Jared Letto) who is an AIDS afflicted transvestite druggie that brings out the best, even compassion, in the very-hetero Ron. Along the way Ron even charms Dr. Saks enough to play along and cover his antics now and then. As the saying goes "all good things come to an end". But the Club adds years to many lives in the meantime, including Woodruff, and to the very discriminated gay community. While Gary and I thought the story of Woodruff's life was very interesting, we wished they would have added some backstory to his character so you could really embrace him. While not highly recommending this one, the stellar performances of McConaughey and Letto do make it worth your time. Just be aware of the heavy content, as it's not for the masses.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2 Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJ