Review of Dallas Buyers Club (2013) by James W — 22 Jun 2014

Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto truly deserved their Oscars, the physical transformations they went under for these roles are utterly astonishing and rather harrowing. When redneck Ron Woodruff is diagnosed with AIDS and told he has thirty days to live, his denial in the beginning soon fades away as his health severely deteriorates as the weeks go by. Determined to get the drugs he needs, Ron sets up a members-only club helping the sick.

This story is one worth telling and thoroughly absorbing throughout, I'd never heard of Ron's story and how deep he got involved with the FDA, and his smuggling programme through Mexico, plus the extremes he went to in order to improve his health. Jean-Marc Vallée's direction is smooth and filled with loads of fade to black cuts, normally after Ron has some sort of accident or collapse, then waking up in hospital. I like how Vallée doesn't resort to using music in his scenes, using the power of camerawork and the cast's performances to draw the impact out.

McConaughey has come a very long way, leaving behind his bad days of films such as "Fool's Gold" and "Ghost Of Girlfriend's Past" and starring in hits like "Mud", "Killer Joe" and now this insanely good movie. McConaughey looks fragile, scrawny and I genuinely thought he's a different man, a man that is now Oscar worthy. The accent is pitch perfect, the behaviour, traits and moments of rage and descent all come together for an award winning performance. Jared Leto too, he had me stunned, hands down one of the absolute finest pieces of acting I have ever seen in my life. It's unbelievable Leto is behind that mascara and big wigs, his performance is heartwarming, tragic towards the end and at times amusing when Rayon has his quips with Ron. Jennifer Garner is one of those actresses that always puts in 100% and she was brilliant in this as Ron's caring doctor Eve Saks, Garner is down to earth and utterly believable.

There's not a single note wrong with this movie, it's never slow and manages to keep you hooked, and I'll say it again the performances are out of this world, a must see Oscar hit.