Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club is the true story of how Ron Woodroof dealt with his HIV diagnosis in 1985. The first known profile of Woodroof was done in 1992 in the Dallas Morning News when Bill Minutaglio interviewed him. An interview with Minutaglio can be found here. The story caught the eye of Craig Borten, one of the film's screenwriters. Borten interviewed Woodroof for three days and the movie took roughly twenty years to be made. Along with the attention and honors that the film has received, there are now those that question the accuracy of the portrayal of Woodroof. Such is the plight of most bio pics and true story Oscar noms. A movie can be informative, shed light, and bring attention to an issue. Film is first an art form and a medium for entertainment. I take a movie for what it is and at its best intention. The poster does say inspired by a true story. The film is a great character study with strong acting performances. 

The movie received six Oscar nominations, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, editing, make-up and hair, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. McConaughey and Leto are the frontrunners for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Both have won the Golden Globe, Critics Choice and SAG Awards in their categories. McConaughey's performance fits well with his persona as the ultimate Texan. The accolades he is receiving seem to be at least in part for his extreme weight loss and physical transformation. Leto is heartbreakingly good. Jennifer Garner is also excellent as a doctor who treats both. The last three Oscar movies that I have seen have three common themes, lots of sex, lots of drugs and federal agents (American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street and Dallas Buyers Club).

And on this, my 33rd birthday, I have discovered that I share a birthday with Diane Lane, John Hurt, Olivia d'Abo, Linda Blair, Guy Fieri, Balthazar Getty and Katie Finneran. And I've always know that I shared it with Patty Stoeck and Stacy Lizzo.