Riding a tidal wave of hype and praise, Dallas Buyers Club finally makes it way into Irish cinemas. Based on the true story of Texan Ron Woodruff and his attempt to help his fellow AIDS patients, while also making a profit, by smuggling effective but unapproved drugs into 1980's America, it is Matthew McConaughey who is getting the lions share of praise in the lead role, but everything in this movie comes together to make this an extremely powerful and, at times, uplifting affair.
Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée handles this with a deft touch, crafting a story that immediately grabs from the opening frame. Unflinchingly realistic in it's portrayal of the AIDS scare in the 80's, it narrows it's view to focus solely on Woodruff's plight, as we follow his change from uninformed bigot to a more caring example of humanity. The story moves at break neck speed, jumping huge swaths of time in between scenes, but it never feels rushed. The editing is extremely tight, offering some great impact to the more emotional scenes. The entire movie feels extremely natural, which adds to its charm, with a nice sense of humour and heart warming nature breaking through the heavy drama. It can be hard going at times, especially when you realise, despite all it's embellishments, the plight of these characters actually happened, as the FDA denies terminally patients effective treatment just to have their pockets lined by big pharmaceutical companies. While it does deal with serious issues, there is a rich vein of sweetness running through this, and you can't help but feel good as Woodruff carries on with his battle, even though it feels like all the odds are stacked against him.
Richly deserving of every piece of silverware he has received or will receive, the show rests solely on McConaughey's shoulders, and he carries that weight effortlessly, delivering his best role since he began his career renaissance. His usual charisma and swagger is there, but it is tempered with desperation towards the situation Woodruff finds himself in. It's a completely transformative role, and that is not just because of the 50 pounds he lost. The changes to Woodruff's character as the movie marches forward are subtle at first, becoming more and more apparent, and the fact we accept and believe these changes is completely down to the actor. Jared Leto offers fantastic support as transvestite Rayon, also dropping a drastic amount of weight for the role. He is the perfect foil for Woodruff, and his story offers a fair amount of emotional weight. Jennifer Garner and Steve Zahn also offer fine support, and the fact that all the supporting cast don't get lost under McConaughey's considerable shadow is commendable.
A fantastically realised, and surprisingly uplifting tale, Dallas Buyers Club doesn't just ride McConaughey's coat tails, it delivers a fantastic piece of cinema. An absolute must watch!!
Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée handles this with a deft touch, crafting a story that immediately grabs from the opening frame. Unflinchingly realistic in it's portrayal of the AIDS scare in the 80's, it narrows it's view to focus solely on Woodruff's plight, as we follow his change from uninformed bigot to a more caring example of humanity. The story moves at break neck speed, jumping huge swaths of time in between scenes, but it never feels rushed. The editing is extremely tight, offering some great impact to the more emotional scenes. The entire movie feels extremely natural, which adds to its charm, with a nice sense of humour and heart warming nature breaking through the heavy drama. It can be hard going at times, especially when you realise, despite all it's embellishments, the plight of these characters actually happened, as the FDA denies terminally patients effective treatment just to have their pockets lined by big pharmaceutical companies. While it does deal with serious issues, there is a rich vein of sweetness running through this, and you can't help but feel good as Woodruff carries on with his battle, even though it feels like all the odds are stacked against him.
Richly deserving of every piece of silverware he has received or will receive, the show rests solely on McConaughey's shoulders, and he carries that weight effortlessly, delivering his best role since he began his career renaissance. His usual charisma and swagger is there, but it is tempered with desperation towards the situation Woodruff finds himself in. It's a completely transformative role, and that is not just because of the 50 pounds he lost. The changes to Woodruff's character as the movie marches forward are subtle at first, becoming more and more apparent, and the fact we accept and believe these changes is completely down to the actor. Jared Leto offers fantastic support as transvestite Rayon, also dropping a drastic amount of weight for the role. He is the perfect foil for Woodruff, and his story offers a fair amount of emotional weight. Jennifer Garner and Steve Zahn also offer fine support, and the fact that all the supporting cast don't get lost under McConaughey's considerable shadow is commendable.
A fantastically realised, and surprisingly uplifting tale, Dallas Buyers Club doesn't just ride McConaughey's coat tails, it delivers a fantastic piece of cinema. An absolute must watch!!
