Watch Dallas Buyers Club

In the movie Dallas Buyers Club, Matthew McConaughey stars as Ron Woodroof, a roguish, hard-living Texas cowboy who is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1985. Ron is initially in denial about his diagnosis, refusing to believe that he could have contracted the disease that was then seen as a death sentence. As he quickly comes to grips with his diagnosis, Ron finds himself facing a medical establishment that is reluctant to treat him and the other AIDS patients around him. At this time, there was no FDA-approved treatment for the disease, and drugs that were available were only in experimental stages and largely inaccessible. Frustrated and desperate, Ron takes matters into his own hands and starts exploring alternative treatments, including unapproved and untested drugs that he obtains through connections in Mexico. He eventually joins forces with Rayon (Jared Leto), a trans woman who is also HIV-positive, and the two establish the Dallas Buyers Club, a sort of underground, members-only organization that provides alternative medicines to those with the disease. As Ron and Rayon navigate legal and bureaucratic obstacles to keep their operation going, they also form a deep bond and friendship that challenges Ron's entrenched homophobia and intolerance. Along the way, he seeks support from Dr. Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner), a sympathetic physician who is also frustrated with the medical establishment's lack of progress in treating AIDS. What stands out most about Dallas Buyers Club is the incredible performances by McConaughey and Leto, who both underwent significant transformations for their roles. McConaughey lost a significant amount of weight to realistically portray the physical deterioration of an AIDS patient, while Leto immersed himself in the character of Rayon, a charismatic and vulnerable figure who draws both Ron and the audience into her story. Their performances are matched by an equally strong script that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the disease, but also manages to infuse the story with humor and warmth. The film's exploration of masculinity, tolerance, and the healthcare system is nuanced and does not offer easy answers, but instead presents a complex portrait of a fraught and difficult time in American history. Overall, Dallas Buyers Club is a powerful and affecting film that tells the story of people who fought back against a system that would not help them, and who found love and support in unexpected places.