Dallas Buyers Club

"Dallas Buyers Club" is a small movie whose premise alone shouts "nominate me for something!" Usually things so blatantly packaged for end of the year awards consideration are either A) dramatically overhyped to make some money or B) so randomly mis-marketed that it gets lost in the shuffle. "DBC" avoids these ploys almost in full, this is a good movie with an outstanding performance from the nude bongo player himself- Matthew McConaughey who has transformed himself from absurd action and or romantic comedy roles to probably one of the best mainstream Hollywood actors going now.

"DBC" is the true story of Ron Woodruff, a rodeo cowboy/hustler who after years of a hard partying lifestyle and countless random unprotected sexual encounters finds himself with the HIV virus in the mid 1980's which was the beginning and the scariest time for AIDS in America. Confused as to how he could contact what is perceived as only a "gay" disease there is a moment early in the film when McConaughey as Woodruff reaches the point of realization that this is in fact a real situation that he now has to deal with, its a moment with no dialogue that immediately makes you feel empathy for the character and shows what a commitment McConaughey has made to the role- along with the much publicized 40 pound weight loss he made for the role. For the majority of his career McCounaughey has been an actor with a lot of potential, from his early work in "Dazed and Confused" and "A Time to Kill" but never seemed that interested in becoming a truly great actor. Roles in such fodder as "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and other mindless crap has only helped in the conclusion that he just wasn't interested in expanding his horizons. With recent roles in another indie "Bernie" and his supporting turn in the "Citizen Kane" of stripper movies "Magic Mike" which he was criminally overlooked for in last years Oscar race he has seemed to turn a corner, "DBC" is for lack of a better term his official coming out party.

The title "Dallas Buyers Club" is in reference to the "club" that Woodruff starts to supply himself and others with HIV/AIDS with currently unapproved or illegal drugs to fight off the disease. Along the way he meets a transsexual named "Rayon" played by one time 90's TV star and current 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto. Leto as well transforms himself into his role in a very effective and heartbreaking turn that has the potential for Oscar talk in the supporting actor category. Jennifer Garner also stars as a doctor torn between doing what she feels is right and what her bosses at the hospital feel is right, Garner is perfectly fine in the role but doesn't bring anything new to the table. Look for one time 80's star Griffin Dunne "After Hours" in a near cameo as the doctor working in Mexico who turns Ron onto to these new experimental drugs.

"DBC" at first glance could be lumped in with other "message" movies such as "Milk" or "The Help" but it really isn't. Its basically a black and white story about a time period in America that is confusing and scary for those who thankfully haven't had any experience with it. While I didn't necessarily identify with Woodruff the man you can't help but feel his pain and identify with the position that the politics and culture of the time put the people effected by this disease in. For that much the movie is good with the bonus of the fantastic acting by the performers that makes this a film that you should not miss.