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 81 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 Vass, an American physician whose license was revoked in the ...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

James DuMont plays Jared Leto's father yet in real life they are only 7 years apart.

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Goofs

During the drilling incident with the illegal alien, a red Ford F-150 is visible in the background. That particular model with composition headlamps didn't appear until 1986 at least a year before Ron was diagnosed with HIV.

A Saab 900 convertible seen in the background during Ron's first visit to Mexico wasn't imported to the United States until 1987 model year.

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Quotes

Ron Woodroof: I swear it, Ray, God sure was dressin' the wrong doll when he blessed you with a set of balls.

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Connections

Referenced in Tosh.0: Puke Drummer (2015)

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Soundtracks

Life of the Party
(uncredited)
By Blondfire

User Reviews

Great Story, Excellent Performances

After being diagnosed with HIV, electrician Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) learns he only has 30 days left to live. After getting an illegal supply of AZT, Ron finds that this isn't doing anything to help him. Eventually fleeing to Mexico, Ron learns of and begins to take a particular drug that hasn't been approved in the U.S. When he finds that this drug is improving his health, Ron sees an opportunity. After smuggling the drugs across the border, Ron, and another HIV patient named Rayon (Jared Leto) begins selling the drug to other citizens with the virus. During the process, Ron battles the medical field and the law in order to prove how beneficial his buyer's club is.

Based on the true story of the real Ron Woodroof, Dallas Buyers Club follow one man's actions on his mission to survive and how he started a revolution in a time when HIV/AIDS was a major issue. The story itself, not only is interesting, but it doesn't contain a dull moments. It filled with dramatic elements with dashes of comedic moments. It also features characters that we come to find ourselves close to. Every one of which gets their own time to shine. The film does jump around quite a bit, but it does so for the sake of the story and the events that are to come, and through every major point in Woodroof's life and battle with HIV.

Among the cast is Matthew McConaughey who easily gives the performance of his career as the blunt and clever Ron Woodroof. McCoaughey conveys different aspects of Woodroof with such ease. There are moments where he portrays Woodroof as being tough as nails, but then he can instantly shift gears into his emotional side. The comic relief aspects also come off completely natural. Jennifer Garner stars as Woodroof's female doctor friend Eve Saks. Garner does a fine job of giving off her charm as she always does, but with this performance we see the conflict her character is battling between her career and doing what is right. But the one actor who stands out the most is Jared Leto as the cross-dressing Rayon. Leto provides not only a lot of the major comic relief, but he also brings the heart of the story. We are shown Rayon as this carefree, happy-go-lucky character, but eventually we are shown just deeply affected this disease brings him emotionally, and Leto brings all of this to the table flawlessly.

Dallas Buyers Club is completely deserving of all of its Oscar buzz. From its powerful story, to its outstanding performances by the two leading males. Whether or not it is or isn't nominated for the 2014 Oscars, it is a film that has to be seen.

My Rating: 8/10