Last year there was a lot of acclaim for the based on a true story movie Dallas Buyers Club, in particular the performances of Jared Leto as a transgender woman and Matthew McConaughey as a man slowly dying from AIDS. The movie tells the story of Ron Woodruff, a real life rodeo cowboy who contracted AIDS but began smuggling drugs to help sufferers with medicines not available in the US due to the FDA not approving their use. Although the movie can at times be difficult to watch, it is truly is an excellent film that successfully dramatizes Ron’s struggles against corporatism, bureaucracy, and bigotry.

Much has been said especially on Jared Leto, deservedly so, as his performance as Rayon, a transgendered individual suffering from the disease is truly extraordinary. Naturally, McConaughey and the other actors do more than okay here, although there are one or two mildly cartoonish caricatures. The story feels both inspirational and depressing, but it is certainly a movie worth your time if you can take the difficult subject matter and some mildly graphic scenes in hospitals. Jennifer Garner does mostly decent work here as a doctor who is trying to toe the line between good practice and ethics.

If this was the sort of film that was entirely fictional, the turn of homophobic Ron to becoming more accepting of others might seem pat or cliched, and the idea that it takes AIDS to “fix” that is offensive. But the fact that this is all based on reality lends a heavy, dramatic weight to the arc of the character. It becomes a story of willpower and strength not to accept fate, fighting against “the man” and helping out those less fortunate. McConaughey is really just dynamite as the lovable rogue type who starts out as not that lovable at all. He and Jared Leto become dangerously skinny as the movie continues, showing that legitimately life threatening acting technique is certainly impressive, if ill advised in the long term. Starting with a bang and with a fast pace, this is a movie that makes you feel uncomfortable straight off the bat, and doesn’t let up.

This is also somewhat of a black comedy, with two winning leads who aren’t afraid of the material. There is certainly a message here, an overarching theme about government interference literally killing people, so I wouldn’t call it subtle. Still, this is a movie that starts with the hero being told “you will die” and then you watch as he makes the most out of what he has left. I really enjoyed it, although there’s a bit of nudity and plenty profanity with “adult themes” for those too squeamish to handle such things.

As for the Blu-Ray itself, the picture is sharp and the sound crisp, but there’s not as much point to extreme quality in a movie like this where the visuals aren’t meant to impress, just be the seamless part of any movie. The extras are sparse. They include:

1. Deleted Scenes (4:55) — Three deleted scenes at under five minutes, including an extended scene with the doctor and Ron helping a strung out Rayon, and two short others that were deleted for a reason. Honestly, it’s not much in the way of deleted scenes.
2. A Look Inside Dallas Buyers Club (3:56) — A criminally short “about the movie” piece that has a few cast interviews and the barest hints of background information on the story.

What all this adds up to is that the movie certainly should be seen if you want to see some of the best performances of 2013, or barring that, just one of the better films of last year. But don’t go out expecting a boatload of exciting extras or a commentary track to shed more light on the proceedings. None of that here, nope! Might be better to wait for it on NetFlix, but it’s extremely watchable.

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There are some movies that you want to see but worry they’ll be too harrowing to sit through. But you know they are those prestige, Oscar bait films with a great cast and a powerful message that need to be seen. Sometimes, they turn out to be not so bad as you’d thought and other times they meet your expectations depending on how closely you can relate to the subject matter. For me, Dallas Buyers Club was one of those movies that I’m glad I saw, but could never sit through again. Even as I write this review I get filled with emotion.

The story, a true story, centers around Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey), a good ole Texas boy who loves the rodeo and women in equal parts. After an on the job accident sends him to the hospital, Ron is told that he has tested positive for HIV (keep in mind, this movie takes place in 1986) and in his current condition he only has 30 days to live. Ron refuses to believe the diagnosis because, well, he’s no “f—-t” but it’s never really confirmed as to how he contracted the disease. As Ron continues to get more ill, he starts doing research into the new drug about to begin trials, AZT. With no way to buy it, Ron bribes an orderly who gets him a bottle on a regular basis until the hospital starts putting it under lock and key. Ron continues to do research, learns that the AZT is more toxic to the system than helpful and is given information about a clinic in Mexico where he can find help.

In Mexico, Ron discovers safe, non-toxic but not approved by the FDA vitamins, proteins and supplements that help extend his life and curtail the illness. Ron then hits upon a brilliant plan — bring the drugs back from Mexico and sell them to those in need. While in the hospital, Ron had been befriended by Rayon (Jared Leto), a patient participating in the drug trial, and after Ron’s homophobic vibe resulted in no success in peddling his wares, Rayon cuts himself in for a quarter of the profits and becomes the main seller. But as their success spreads, the FDA catches on and shuts them down. Ron then sets up the Dallas Buyers Club, where the members pay a monthly fee to belong and get all of their drugs for free. It’s a surefire way to get around the law, but when you’re fighting against the Feds and big pharma, it’s a losing battle. Or is it?

McConaughey, as is widely known at this point, lost a huge amount of weight to play Woodruff. He’s already scary skinny when the movie starts, but starts looking a little better as the cocktail of supplements he’s taking kicks in, and then goes downhill again as the Feds confiscate everything. He makes Woodruff a very difficult guy to like as he spews anti-gay epithets, but once he’s welcomed into Rayon’s circle and starts going to any lengths possible to help people in his condition, you have to admire the guy. And then you remember he’s really only doing it for the profit and his own health … but he’s still helping people who otherwise have no other option but to enter a trial and hope they get the AZT, or go on the AZT once it’s approved by the FDA. It certainly was brilliant casting (Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling were early contenders for the role) and McConaughey’s devotion to the character will almost certainly nab him some awards notice.

Another cast member almost certain to get nominations for supporting actor (and probably a few wins) is Jared Leto as the transgendered Rayon. Leto spends most of the movie in makeup and women’s clothing, but he never lets the character become a caricature. Rayon can deliver a withering glare and a scathingly funny comment or two, but she’s always a down to earth human being who just happens to be battling a ravaging disease (Leto also lost a lot of weight for the role) and a drug addiction. Leto makes Rayon the more sympathetic of the two, who jumps into the business with Ron to help his brothers and sisters and to make a little money on the side.

The film certainly is a “message” movie that, even though it takes place three decades ago, still resonates today as the country has become divided over the issue of health care and how it all boils down to money. The film squarely points the finger at the FDA and the pharmaceuticals being in bed together, looking to see how much profit can be made (AZT was the most expensive drug in the world when it was finally approved) rather than how alternate treatments — which would cut into the AZT profits — could be more beneficial to patients. It also casts a glaring eye at the hospitals that were being paid to administer the AZT, even over the objections of some of the doctors on staff (Jennifer Garner plays one such doctor). As our current battle over health care wages today, you can still see how most of the resistance to a universal plan comes from insurance providers and pharmaceuticals who worry about their bottom line. The film’s message is powerful, and perhaps will help open eyes to our current health care plight.

As I stated earlier, Dallas Buyers Club is a good movie with terrific performances from the leads and all of the supporting actors. But it’s not the feel good movie of the year, especially if your life has been touched by the tragedy that was and is the AIDS crisis. My best friend passed away from the disease in 2008. It was tough to see him deteriorate while he wasn’t getting the care he needed, and good to see him improve as he finally got the right combination of meds and care. He survived for 14 years, but all of us who knew and loved him still miss him to this day. It was very, very difficult to watch this movie and not think of him, and if you’ve been touched in some way by this disease, you may want to prepare yourself mentally before seeing it.

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CliqueClack has partnered with Focus Features and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer readers in the Baltimore and DC areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the highly anticipated Dallas Buyers Club, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto. McConaughey is Ron Woodroof, an electrician and rodeo cowboy. In 1985, he is well into an unexamined existence with a devil-may-care lifestyle. Suddenly, Ron is blindsided by being diagnosed as H.I.V.-positive and given 30 days to live. Yet he will not, and does not, accept a death sentence.His crash course of research reveals a lack of approved treatments and medications in the U.S., so Ron crosses the border into Mexico. There, he learns about alternative treatments and begins smuggling them into the U.S., challenging the medical and scientific community including his concerned physician, Dr. Eve Saks (Garner).

An outsider to the gay community, Ron finds an unlikely ally in fellow AIDS patient Rayon (Leto), a transsexual who shares Ron’s lust for life. Rayon also shares Ron’s entrepreneurial spirit: seeking to avoid government sanctions against selling non-approved medicines and supplements, they establish a “buyers club,” where H.I.V.-positive people pay monthly dues for access to the newly acquired supplies. Deep in the heart of Texas, Ron’s pioneering underground collective beats loud and strong. With a growing community of friends and clients, Ron fights for dignity, education, and acceptance.

Screenings of Dallas Buyers Club will take place as follows:

• Thursday, November 7, 7:00 PM, AMC Mazza Gallerie, Washington, DC
• Thursday, November 14, 7:00 PM, AMC White Marsh, Baltimore, MD

You MUST read and follow the instructions in order to secure your passes. Failure to follow the instructions will result in disqualification.

• Leave a comment on this post with either BALTIMORE or DC as your comment. We will scan comments for either of those two words.
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• Multiple comments will be accepted. However, unique comments will be serviced first and duplicates will be fulfilled closer to the screening date if any remain.
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• Note that passes do not guarantee you a seat. Advance screenings are often overbooked to ensure a full house, so please plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the number of passes distributed or seating at the theater.

Have a look at the film’s trailer, and then let us know where you would like to see Dallas Buyers Club.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ety5kOjlXoU