The Good Fight: Dallas Buyers Club

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Some of the scenes from director Jean Marc Valleé’s “The Dallas Buyers Club” may be hard to watch, but don’t let this stop you from seeing this important film. People born after 1982 have little con­ ception of what life was like for gay men suffering from HIV/AIDS in the 1980s. Today, HIV/AIDS is still a global pan­ demic—although it is no longer an auto­ matic death sentence, at least in the United States. As of 2012, approximately 35.3 million people have HIV worldwide, with the number of new infections that year be­ ing about 2.3 million. This is down from 3.1 million new infections in 2001. Vallée focused on true events of seven years in the life of Ron Woodroof, a het­ erosexual, homophobic Texas cowboy. One day in 1985, he ends up in the hospital because of a work-related injury (he was an electrician). Dr. Sevard (Denis O’Hare) tells him he has HIV/AIDS and has 30 days to live. He reacts as you would ex­ pect, shouting, “I ain’t no faggot!” and then tells the doctor to “fuck off” as he stomps out.

Matthew McConaughey plays Wood­ roof. He made a brave choice in accepting the role, making you feel for Ron every moment. He lost about 30 pounds to play Woodroof and comes off as totally believ­ able. He looks dangerously thin, but it no way detracts from his swaggering cowboy studliness.

Ron is a schemer. He works the rodeos, readying steer riders before they are shot out of the chutes. He bets on rides and events, usually winning, and appears to have a lot of money. Soon, word gets around about Ron. His friends and co-workers ostracize him; he’s evicted from his home in a trailer park: “Faggot Blood” had been spray-painted on his trailer.

An altercation in which he’s seriously injured attracts the police, one of whom, luckily, happens to be his tolerant, car­ ing brother, Tucker (Steve Zahn). Tucker drives him to the hospital, where he meets his transgender roommate, Rayon, beau­ tifully played by Jared Leto (lead singer and guitarist from 30 Seconds to Mars, who also shed pounds for the film). After some homophobic remarks, Ron gradually accepts Ray into his life. Finally dealing with the fact that he’s infected, he re­ searches the disease. Jennifer Garner plays a sympathetic Dr. Eva Saks. She and Sevard tell Ron about blind AZT clinical trials and that it could be years before he could participate. He connects with a hospital orderly who steals the drug for him. When the hospital starts keeping track, the orderly gives Ron the address of Dr. Vass (bearded, scruffy Griffin Dunne) in Mexico. Vass warns him of the dangers of AZT and gives him sup­ plies of “safe” drugs.

Woodroof and Rayon set up a kind of dispensary in a motel to sell the contra­ band drugs and make a lot of money. His lawyer, David Wayne (Dallas Roberts of “The Good Wife”), advises him to set up his “business” as a club and charge a membership fee, otherwise, the IRS would get on his case- hence, The Dallas Buyers Club.

A scene of Woodroof and Rayon shop­ ping in a supermarket lends a light touch to the film and allows us to experience their caring relationship and respect. He reaches a breakthrough when he realizes that he not only wants to save his own life, but those of others he has come to know and care about, especially Rayon. Soon, he is hounded by the FDA, his “club” shut down, stock and supplies con­ fiscated. In a well-tailored black suit and black cowboy hat, he flies to Japan follow­ ing leads to obtain drugs that are illegal in the U.S. Dr. Vass prescribes a protein supplement, but his condition worsens— his hair thins, his skin turns flakey, sunken eyes and cheeks—as he continues to be harassed by FDA officials and the hospital staff.

In one heartbreaking scene, we witness him driving to Mexico where he experi­ ences the onset of dementia, a condition suffered by a majority of AIDS sufferers. His disoriented, confused actions alert the border patrol. Tucker comes for him and takes him to the hospital. Later, Woodroof and Wayne sue the FDA. The case eventu­ ally makes it to the 9th Circuit Court of Ap­ peals in San Francisco. Back in Texas, he finds he has won and can legally take the protein supplement.

Ron Woodroof died of AIDS in 1992, seven years after his diagnosis. There are a lot of films and actors up for Academy Awards; Matthew McCo­ naughey deserves one for Best Actor. n