Dallas Buyers Club *****

Any film relating to AIDS automatically focuses the attention and fuels expectation of a standout performance from the lead. As such, awards recognition is naturally on the cards, cynically so some might say. But director Jean-Marc Vallée’s (C.R.A.Z.Y., The Young Victoria) Dallas Buyers Club offers the career-defining role for stars Matthew McConaughey as well as an acting-career-rejuvenating part for rocker Jared Leto.

Based on a true story, it’s 1985 in Dallas, Texas, and electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof lives the wild, carefree life, partying, riding rodeo and having his pick of women. After collapsing, he is hospitalised and told he has AIDS but is in denial because he is ‘not gay’. Local homophobic taunts and panic sets in, leading Woodroof to sign up to an experimental drug program of AZT-testing, which wreaks havoc with his white blood cell count.

Seeking alternative methods, he discovers there are combinations of drugs, including vitamins that he can take to put the disease at bay, much to the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration)’s disapproval. Woodroof sets up a lucrative business helping others like him, supported by unlikely new friend, transvestite Rayon (Leto), and privately supported by Doctor Eve Saks (well-played by Jennifer Garner).

McConaughey is absolutely fascinating to watch in this – rightfully acknowledged at the Golden Globes recently, winning Best Actor. It will be surprising if we don’t see an Academy Awards repeat of 1994, where Tom Hanks won for Philadelphia with his portrayal of Andrew Beckett, a lawyer with AIDS. This film is far from awards-baiting though; it really is a complete physical and mental transformation by an actor that truly warrants recognition.

Renowned for being cocksure on screen, McConaughey has turned his back on his romcom fraternity-boy persona in recent times, with the likes of indies like Mud (2012). As Woodroof, he has the chance to cement his astonishing talents that seem to be unstoppable and criminally hidden all these years from mainstream audiences. As Woodroof, he portrays the full spectrum of emotions as his life is turned upside down, still relying on that ‘arrogance’ of former roles to take control of the situation.

You would be forgiven for thinking this film is led by one performance. The supporting roles are just a memorable, with Leto as a frightened cross dresser who feeds off the defiance and sense of hope that Woodroof creates, but who is not as strong in belief as his business-savvy friend. Rayon is the only fictional character in the real-life story but Leto makes her believable, swinging from damaged to defiant at any moment and managing to give a fully rounded character that you cannot help but believe was real. The story’s compelling sub-plot is Woodroof’s change in attitude towards the gay community with Rayon’s help, but without Vallée’s film turning to cliché. What is portrayed is very real process indeed rather than sympathy-seeking schmaltz, making it even more impacting.

Do not miss seeing McConaughey at his finest in Dallas Buyers Club; it really is the ultimate in dedication to ones art, plus a chance to see Leto return with a tour de force to the big screen in a small indie way.

5/5 stars

By @FilmGazer

Follow on Twitter