Dallas Buyers’ Club

Ron Woodroof (played by Matthew McConaughey) is a hard living, hard working and hard playing electrician who loves a party, a drink and a really good time. His days are spent in a drink and drug effected haze, often in the company of any woman he can find.  His hard living is having an effect on his body, but he puts up with it for a while – then he can no longer ignore the effects and collapses. He wakes up in hospital to be told he’s contracted the HIV virus. This is 1985 and HIV/AIDS is very new in the community – Ron is horrified and incredulous at this diagnosis – “it’s gotta be a mistake, right? –  I’m no faggot …”. Suddenly the real impact of his womanizing and drug fuelled lifestyle hits home and he realises it’s really true. Given 30 days to live, he steels himself that he will absolutely fight this at every step – including anything or anyone that gets in his way. He is suspicious of the formal medical regime so he starts to organise his own drugs – nothing to lose, right?. His medical professionals, Dr Sevard (by Denis O’Hare) and Dr Eve Saks (by Jennifer Garner) are against this as it totally defies conventional treatment and research has not yet evidenced that contrary treatment is any better. In Mexico, he meets American physician Doctor Vass (by Griffin Dunne), whose US license has been revoked after he offered AIDS treatments against US regulations. Ron starts to smuggle non-approved drugs into the US, at first for his own use but soon for sale to other HIV+ people. Pretty soon, Ron’s self-designed drug therapy shows results, then other sufferers hear about what he’s doing – and his reputation spreads. He meets fellow AIDS sufferer Rayon (by Jared Leto) and they start a business to get the drugs to the “members” of their new Dallas Buyers Club. The authorities are horrified and do everything they can to stop Ron’s activities, regardless of the positive outcomes he may be getting ….

This movie is based on the true story of Ron Woodroof and his actions, just to do what’s right – first for himself, then for many others. It is horrifying in its depiction of the utter ignorance (in the sense that they are unaware) and slowness of the authorities in dealing with the entire HIV issue and the ethics of associated medical research trials to find a treatment. In their blindness, the authorities actually try to deter Ron’s actions when his drug regime is demonstrating clear success. It’s also jaw-dropping to watch (and remember) the reaction of Ron’s “friends” when they find out he has the HIV virus and AIDS. As the two key characters, McConaughey and Leto contibute very strong performances – no surprise they were both awarded with Academy Awards (Oscars), Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards for their work. Matthew McConaughey is almost unrecognisable as Ron, particularly where the disease has ravaged his body; and Jared Leto is sublime as Rayon. Jennifer Garner’s key role as Eve Saks is about her professionalism, morals and ethics – it’s a strong role. I am interested and pleased to see Dallas Roberts here too, as I am more used to his peformances as Owen in the television series “The Good Wife”. The cinematography reflects the chaotic nature of Ron’s thoughts and his life in general and some scenes are graphic. It’s a good film.

Made in 2014. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée

 

Last Night

Joanna Reed (played by Keira Knightley) is a beautiful young writer, living in New York. Her first book has been published and she is trying to get going on her second – but is racked with self-doubt. She has been together with Michael (by Sam Worthington) on and off for seven years – they have been married for the past four. After a work function, Joanna accuses Michael of having an affair with his work colleague, Laura (by Eva Mendes). They fight and Michael admits his attraction to Laura but that no affair has occurred. The next day Michael goes out of town for work and Joanna is regretful that she overreacted – after all, Michael and Laura are away together, but she is not concerned. When she is out for a coffee, Joanna bumps into her Parisien ex-lover Alex (by Guillaume Canet), on his last day of a visit to New York and she agrees to see him for a drink that evening. Now apart for the night, Michael and Joanna each spend the next few hours faced with temptation. Each has an attraction to their short-term companion, but each also has a strong love and loyalty to their spouse and their marriage. Both are tested – they each make decisions and take actions as they confront their true feelings, honesty and loyalty …

This is not a romantic comedy – it’s an exploration of emotion, trust and human behaviour. It’s slow moving, but there are interesting points made. Nobody is happy in this movie and nobody is honest – either to their partner or to themselves. At first I found myself blaming the “interlopers” as they each try very hard to influence Michael or Joanna to “forget their loyalties” and misbehave. But then I decided that everyone must be responsible for their own decisions and the consequences of their own behaviour.  I didn’t develop any affinity, endearment or sympathy for any of the four main characters. But the movie presents some interesting dilemmas, which you will probably enjoy discussing with others once you have watched this – it’s the kind of movie that sticks in your mind for ages afterwards as you think through all the behaviours you see and the potential scenario’s. Keira Knightly is luminous, she is very beautiful and quite authentic here. Sam Worthington’s “Aussie” accent is almost cringe-worthy, but he’s just being himself – and I think that’s true for them all, Eva Mendes’ does a great job as Laura. She is interesting, there is clearly a lot more to her and I think the movie would have been enhanced by knowing more of how she ticked.  But that wasn’t really a salient point.  Alex is French, but he’s a bit of a surprise package – not how you would usually see a gallic hero portrayed in the movies.

Overall, it is quite a good movie – but don’t watch it if you want a nice, warm, happy feeling after you’ve seen it.

Made in 2011. Directed by Massy Tadjedin