I went into this film with zero expectations. I didn't hear hardly anything about it until it was nominated for an Oscar. I watched it a couple weeks ago before the ceremony and was blown away.
Based on a true story, Matthew McConaughey plays cowboy, Ron Woodroof. After living life in "I don't give a fuck" mode, Ron is diagnosed with AIDS with 30 days to live. While at first being in denial, Ron decides to turn his life around after discovering the FDA drugs approved in the US are not making him any better. With help from others, such as the transgender Rayon, played by Jared Leto, Ron begins to smuggle drugs from all over the world and sells it to others diagnosed with the virus. Together they fight not only their illness, but against the federal government that are trying to stop the illegal trade.
This isn't the greatest film of all time, but it is still damn good. This takes a subject that is very difficult by a different approach. How is this film different from other ones featuring HIV/AIDS, like Philadelphia or Angels in America? People have been saying there isn't that many films about this subject. Well, there is, they just don't come out too often. HIV/AIDS can happen to anyone and that is what Dallas Buyers Club does a great job of pointing that out. The focus wasn't entirely on the fact these characters were sick, it was about what they did to try to resolve it and how it changed them. It is more of a character study than it is a plot driven movie, much like American Hustle. The only difference being that the characters here are more believable while in American Hustle they were really all-over the place.
My favorite performance in this film has to be Jared Leto. I really have not paid much notice to him in previous films (or his band) before but now he is really standing out. Playing the role of a transvestite challenging since if it is done wrong, then you're just a man in drag playing around. What makes Rayon stand out is that it is easy to forget that it is Leto playing that character and you believe him.
Then there's McConaughey, whom I have never taken seriously as an actor. I look through his filmography and there is a lot of shit in the mix. However, he has gotten a lot better. He is no longer the laughing stock, hillbilly in Hollywood. Much like Leto's character, McConaughey is very real. I actually feel like I met a Ron in real life. This is probably the greatest character arch I have seen in any film. Ron goes from a total bastard to someone working his ass off to help others, though still focusing on himself.
The rest of the characters somewhat blend into the background, as does the story. I wasn't really wondering how or even if they were going to get the drugs and sell them. I was more concerned with how the characters were going to react to certain things happening around them.
Overall, this really is a strong film. Obviously the message is very important, but I would watch it for the performances most of all.
Grade: A
On a side note about the Oscars, I thought it was very good. I predicted most of the winners ahead of time. The one I was very surprised with was McConaughey for Best Actor. Like Ben Affleck, he has definitely improved. Many people have been asking "How come Gravity won all those awards but didn't get Best Picture?"
First of all, you're an idiot. Second, Gravity was good in the technical features department. Great editing, sound, special effects and just overall a satisfying popcorn-movie experience. As far as a actual movie goes, it is still gimmicky in the end, but not at all in a bad way.There wasn't much of a story, the performances were okay and there wasn't much to take away from it except for the experience to be had. 12 Years a Slave had all that and more. Great performances, hard-hitting story, powerful themes, everything that made it deserve that Oscar.
The ceremony itself was actually pretty fun. Ellen did a great job though it became obvious she was getting stressed when they went into overtime. I really liked how everyone looked like they were having fun and all the stage performances were great.
My favorite performance in this film has to be Jared Leto. I really have not paid much notice to him in previous films (or his band) before but now he is really standing out. Playing the role of a transvestite challenging since if it is done wrong, then you're just a man in drag playing around. What makes Rayon stand out is that it is easy to forget that it is Leto playing that character and you believe him.
Then there's McConaughey, whom I have never taken seriously as an actor. I look through his filmography and there is a lot of shit in the mix. However, he has gotten a lot better. He is no longer the laughing stock, hillbilly in Hollywood. Much like Leto's character, McConaughey is very real. I actually feel like I met a Ron in real life. This is probably the greatest character arch I have seen in any film. Ron goes from a total bastard to someone working his ass off to help others, though still focusing on himself.
The rest of the characters somewhat blend into the background, as does the story. I wasn't really wondering how or even if they were going to get the drugs and sell them. I was more concerned with how the characters were going to react to certain things happening around them.
Overall, this really is a strong film. Obviously the message is very important, but I would watch it for the performances most of all.
Grade: A
On a side note about the Oscars, I thought it was very good. I predicted most of the winners ahead of time. The one I was very surprised with was McConaughey for Best Actor. Like Ben Affleck, he has definitely improved. Many people have been asking "How come Gravity won all those awards but didn't get Best Picture?"
First of all, you're an idiot. Second, Gravity was good in the technical features department. Great editing, sound, special effects and just overall a satisfying popcorn-movie experience. As far as a actual movie goes, it is still gimmicky in the end, but not at all in a bad way.There wasn't much of a story, the performances were okay and there wasn't much to take away from it except for the experience to be had. 12 Years a Slave had all that and more. Great performances, hard-hitting story, powerful themes, everything that made it deserve that Oscar.
The ceremony itself was actually pretty fun. Ellen did a great job though it became obvious she was getting stressed when they went into overtime. I really liked how everyone looked like they were having fun and all the stage performances were great.
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