Among the very strong contenders at this year’s Academy Awards was the film “Dallas Buyers Club,” which is based on a true and very important story. The movie takes place in 1985 and centers on Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey), an electrician and rodeo swindler who contracts AIDS.
Shortly after his diagnosis, Ron is ostracized by his friends and is forced to reevaluate his life. Once he realizes that Food and Drug Administration-approved medications and American doctors will not be able to save his and other AIDS patients’ lives, Ron begins obtaining other medications for them. As he begins this business, he partners with Rayon (Jared Leto), a transgender male who is also sick with AIDS.
While “Dallas Buyers Club” was a small-budget film that could have easily been overlooked, I think it is fantastic that the exact opposite has happened for it. The story that is portrayed throughout this film is one that is definitely still very important and relevant.
While the storyline was very good in this film, the acting in it was even better. Ron Woodruff was amazingly portrayed by McConaughey, who has certainly come a long way in his career. I never expected to see such a strong and emphatic performance from McConaughey. However, with his incredible portrayal, he has certainly put aside any doubts.
Another noteworthy performance came from Leto, who played Rayon. While Leto may also be known for being the lead singer of the band 30 Seconds to Mars, he has undoubtedly established himself as a strong actor. With his unforgettable performance, Leto definitely brought this complicated yet important character to life in more ways than most actors could have. Other members of the cast of “Dallas Buyers Club” include Jennifer Garner, Denis O’Hare and Michael O’Neill.
This film received a total of six Academy Award nominations, three of which it won. The film took home Best Hair and Makeup, along with Oscars for both Leto and McConaughey. All of these awards, especially those for the actors, were extremely well-deserved and ultimately solidified how important and significant “Dallas Buyers Club” really is.
