Dallas Buyers Club.
When a film takes over twenty years to make, being declined by so many film company's you have to think that the film obviously has problems script wise or something. But I have to say I honestly don't know why it took so long as what has been made here is something truly incredible and brings out some career defining performances from the films leads.
Set in the 1980's you first see a rodeo bull rider having sex with a woman in one of the closed off bull pens, that man is Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey). A man who is a proud womaniser and hard working, beer drinking texan that is until her gets back to his trailer and collapses, waking up in hospital this is where his life turns upside down. Diagnosed with AIDS he is given only a mere thirty days to live with which he reply's hardly against this diagnosis and says he will prove them wrong.
Called a homosexual, thrown out of his home, shunned by his close friends and sacked from his job the prejudice is shown all around him. Deciding to take the trial drug AZT he meets a HIV-positive trans man Rayon (Jared Leto) with whom he at first doesn't like for his sexual orientation. Hospitalised and realising the drug isn't working he seeks out other drugs to help him stay alive for as long as possible.
Realising that their are so many other people in the same situation he sets up the "Dallas Buyers Club", $400 membership each month and you get the drugs you will need to stay alive. Advised by his doctor Dr Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner) to not take away her trial patients she is torn with what to do but also shocked to see Ron still alive. Also constantly raided by the FDA and having his drugs taken off of him Ron has alot to fight for now, not just for his own life but for the many other peoples lives part of the Buyers Club as well.
The film itself is poignant and one that shows with determination and heart you can do anything you want, Ron is one of those people who initially sets out to make money but realises he is doing ALOT more than just that. Ron's character changes over the course of the film, from womanising homophobic cowboy to heart felt, broken and caring man fighting for his life and many others lives.
McConaughey and Leto fit into both the roles so easily and I couldn't see any other actor out their at the minute portray the characters, both put everything into the characters including losing weight for the film. For a film that was filmed in a total of twenty five days with a single camera on half the original budget it is a brilliant film. Certainly a film that will be mentioned and talked about in years to come and one hopefully to inform people of not only the prejudice of HIV and AIDS but to show that the disease can effect anyone in life and to stay strong if you do have either.
10/10.
