Dallas Buyers Club

 

A free wheeling chauvinistic ,homophobic, cocky and offensive rodeo – Ron Woodroof takes a daily dose of drugs, alcohol & women while working as an electrician somewhere between these hobbies. When confronted with death itself coming in the form of the ‘gay virus’ :HIV, he responds aggressively and ignorantly lives in denial continuing his toxic lifestyle. The truth slowly dawns upon him as every moment slips away painfully . In his pulseless search for the cure to his virus, he realizes the dirty business that the  hospitals are. So, he decides to walk away from these corrupt hospitals which give approved but toxic drugs and starts a clean business but with unapproved drugs. Thus, giving birth to a Dallas Buyers Club.

Dallas Buyers Club is a touching and an important story in which two characters exceptionally stand out due to brilliance in acting, Ron Woodroof played by Matthew McConaughey and Rayon played by Jared Leto. Matthew does his role flawlessly and admirably well. From conveying emotions of shock on learning of his medical condition to that of suffering from a heart attack, the oscar awardee makes no mistake in any frame of the film. Yes, just read that aloud again .He faked a HEART ATTACK. (Awestruck)He keeps the masculine spirit of woodroof intact throughout as he offers his prayers to god in a strip club. The intricate variations in the character can be observed on screen as he transforms from being a homophobic and rugged cowboy to a responsible human being. Taking on the role of a diseased person with abnormal habits was a mammoth task . Matthew takes this up boldly by flaunting a skeletal look in the film which is not a very pretty sight. The sound of fading pulses and his appearance make it hard for viewers to even breathe. From being the romantic hero in romcoms like ‘How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days’ to this important film, Matthew takes a huge leap. His subtle display of the character of a simple man who takes appreciation modestly is showcased as he smiles like a bunny in the climax feeling happy to be recognised for his efforts. That smile right there in the end is priceless.

Quote:”Screw the FDA ,I’m gonna be DOA.”

Jared Leto’s performance comes as a huge surprise as he plays Rayon the good natured homosexual. Rayon is the only character which keeps you entertained with humour and portrayal of the feelings of a homosexual. Jared does complete justice to the character by playing it fearlessly on screen. The pain of not being accepted, feeling like a misfit expressed by Jared will leave you in tears. Those feminine antics and unconditional love that Rayon shows absolutely stand out in the film. Scenes with Rayon’s father are acted commendably well as they allow you to imagine the love-hate relationship they must have shared. By the end of the movie, Jared succeeds in leaving a void and making you feel incomplete and sympathetic towards rayon.An oscar well deserved .

Quote: “I wanna be pretty.”

The relationship that Ron and Rayon share is a very wry and intimate gesture of love. They have a fantastic chemistry throughout the film and make good business partners. Although the initially homophobic Ron tries to keep Rayon at a distance, the space between them narrows as the story progresses.Few characters like Ron’s physician, his so called friends and a bunch of angry faces have a lasting effect and do their part in the film well.All the main characters on the whole cry the universal struggle for normalcy. DBC, all in all , is a fantastic film with an important and powerful script which tells the true stories of a person who refused to die,a person who stood up against the system, a person who had faced abandonment and a person diagnosed with AIDS ,genuinely and bravely. Making a movie based on a true story and a dry topic like this restricts the story in a film which is exactly what happened in this case. Bottom line: Amazing acting ,Important film. “Strange. Life is strange.”

Rating : 8.5/10

-Mojo Jojo