Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.

Director:

Jean-Marc Vallée

Writers:

Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto

Won 3 Oscars. Another 82 wins & 81 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew McConaughey	...	Ron Woodroof
Jennifer Garner	...	Eve
Jared Leto	...	Rayon
Denis O'Hare	...	Dr. Sevard
Steve Zahn	...	Tucker
Michael O'Neill	...	Richard Barkley
Dallas Roberts	...	David Wayne
Griffin Dunne	...	Dr. Vass
Kevin Rankin	...	T.J.
Donna Duplantier	...	Nurse Frazin
Deneen Tyler	...	Denise (as Deneen D. Tyler)
J.D. Evermore	...	Clint
Ian Casselberry	...	Hispanic Orderly
Noelle Wilcox	...	Kelly
Bradford Cox	...	Sunny

Storyline

Dallas 1985. Electrician and sometimes rodeo bull rider Ron Woodroof lives hard, which includes heavy smoking, drinking, drug use (primarily cocaine) and casual sex. He is racist and homophobic. While in the hospital on a work related injury, the doctors discover and inform him that he is HIV+, and that he will most-likely die within thirty days. Ron is initially in angry denial that he would have a disease that only "faggots" have, but upon quick reflection comes to the realization that the diagnosis is probably true. He begins to read whatever research is available about the disease, which at this time seems to be most effectively treated by the drug AZT. AZT, however, is only in the clinical trials stage within the US. Incredulous that he, as a dying man, cannot pay for any drug which may save or at least prolong his life, he goes searching for it by whatever means possible. It eventually leads him to Mexico and a "Dr." Vass, an American physician whose license was revoked in the ...

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Plot Keywords:

hiv | gay community | homophobia | drugs | hiv positive | 

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Taglines:

Dare to Live

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, nudity and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

22 November 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dallas Buyers Club

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$260,865, 3 November 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$27,298,285

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$55,198,285

Company Credits

Production Co:

Truth Entertainment (II), Voltage Pictures, r2 films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the fifth movie to win Best Actor in a Leading Role & Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscars (for Matthew McConaughey & Jared Leto), Going My Way (1944), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Ben-Hur (1959) & Mystic River (2003) being the others. However, as of 2018, this is the only year that all the nominees in these two acting categories were for performances in other Best Picture nominees. This was the only year in Oscar history that all five Best Supporting Actor nominees were from Best Picture nominees.

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Goofs

When Ron puts the sombrero on Dr. Saks's head while he's trying to talk her into writing out prescriptions for the drugs, the door opens and closes behind him.

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Quotes

Ron Woodroof: Let me give y'all a little news flash. There ain't nothin' out there can kill fuckin' Ron Woodroof in 30 days.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Melissa McCarthy/Robert Duvall/Hanya Yanagihara/Jon Theodore (2015)

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Soundtracks

Sweet Thang
Written by Johnny Otis
Performed by Shuggie Otis
Published by BMG Rights Management Canada
o/b/o Shuggie Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.

User Reviews

Two shining performances

Other reviewers have ably reviewed this film, so I'll just say that this small gem is the best film I've seen so far this year. Both lead actors give sparkling performances, and in scenes where they share the screen, you might need sunglasses to handle the sun-bright intensity.

Of note is that this entire film was shot in only 23 days and Leto, in particular, said in an interview on the Daily Show, that he didn't have much time to rehearse, making the performance even more impressive. The only detraction was Jennifer Garner. She barely projects the authority of a nurse, let alone a doctor, even though female doctors in the 70's (and maybe today) were second-class citizens.