Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Lisa Myers said:A-ha, so it turns out... well, either way, the movie is absolutely fantastic, no question about it. As for the character himself—which is a totally separate issue from how good the film is—I can't help but wonder if his efforts to help people by recommending things like aloe or vitamins were purely driven by profit, or if he genuinely wanted to help (or, my guess is, both). Plus, some of the details regarding the disease itself feel inaccurate based on what we know today. I assume the screenwriter just stuck to the medical understanding available at the time the story takes place.

At first, it’s definitely the first one, but eventually, his motivations shift toward the second. Sure, profit was the initial driver behind "helping" folks, but after going through so much personal pain during the filming and seeing the struggles other people deal with, he couldn't just keep doing it for the paycheck. That's the whole point of the story—that transformation into a "true hero," opening his eyes and breaking free from that shallow, one-dimensional way of looking at life.

That's just how I saw it. 😉

driftingseal11 said:At first, it’s definitely the first one, but eventually, his motivations shift toward the second. Sure, profit was the initial driver behind "helping" folks, but after going through so much personal pain during the filming and seeing the struggles other people deal with, he couldn't just keep doing it for the paycheck. That's the whole point of the story—that transformation into a "true hero," opening his eyes and breaking free from that shallow, one-dimensional way of looking at life.

That's just how I saw it. 😉

I saw it the exact same way.

It’s especially obvious in the scene where he tells his assistant to sell the car just so they can provide medicine to a client.

The only real flaw in this movie is Jennifer Garner. Seriously. It goes from being an absolute epic masterpiece to feeling like some cheesy romantic comedy for a few seconds there. The movie pulls you in so deep, and then she just totally "tilts" the vibe every time she's on screen. Such a bummer. It was just bad casting—she definitely doesn't have the heavy-hitting charisma needed for a role this intense.

I heard Halle Berry actually turned it down (which isn't perfect either, but she would’ve been way better here).
Matthew McConaughey—hands down one of the best performances of the last 20 years. Honestly, he belongs right up there with the all-time greats. It’s wild to think it's the same guy; his talent is just insane. It really makes you wonder how many incredible actors are still hiding out because they'd rather take those mindless, cookie-cutter roles just to chase a paycheck and some quick fame. Some of the stuff McConaughey pulled off here, especially in the first half, was nothing short of a miracle. Pure magic.
Jared Leto—same deal. He killed it too.

Killer Joe and Mud definitely paved the way for everyone else to climb that pedestal ☕

George Chavez8 said:The only real flaw in this movie is Jennifer Garner. Seriously. It goes from being an absolute epic masterpiece to feeling like some cheesy romantic comedy for a few seconds there. The movie pulls you in so deep, and then she just totally "tilts" the vibe every time she's on screen. Such a bummer. It was just bad casting—she definitely doesn't have the heavy-hitting charisma needed for a role this intense.

I heard Halle Berry actually turned it down (which isn't perfect either, but she would’ve been way better here).
Matthew McConaughey—hands down one of the best performances of the last 20 years. Honestly, he belongs right up there with the all-time greats. It’s wild to think it's the same guy; his talent is just insane. It really makes you wonder how many incredible actors are still hiding out because they'd rather take those mindless, cookie-cutter roles just to chase a paycheck and some quick fame. Some of the stuff McConaughey pulled off here, especially in the first half, was nothing short of a miracle. Pure magic.
Jared Leto—same deal. He killed it too.

Personally, I think she would have been a terrible choice—and I'm not even sure if those rumors are true. If you look up "the real doctor" online, JG looks a lot more like her. I don't see how HB fits that look at all. Plus, to me, that woman seems overrated in every way, from her acting to her looks.

It's not that JG was a perfect pick; they could have done better, but she didn't ruin anything for me.

driftingseal11 said:At first, it’s definitely the first one, but eventually, his motivations shift toward the second. Sure, profit was the initial driver behind "helping" folks, but after going through so much personal pain during the filming and seeing the struggles other people deal with, he couldn't just keep doing it for the paycheck. That's the whole point of the story—that transformation into a "true hero," opening his eyes and breaking free from that shallow, one-dimensional way of looking at life.

That's just how I saw it. 😉

I saw it the exact same way. You see it most clearly in his relationship with Rayon; despite appearing to be just another homophobic Texan at first, it becomes obvious there is actual depth beneath that rough exterior. 🙂
The movie worked for me, and Matthew McConaughey surprised me—it's refreshing to see him move past the typical Hollywood pretty boy roles. 😁
Even Jennifer Garner wasn't bad. Her character is designed to be conflicted, torn between professional duty and what is actually right on a human level.

George Chavez8 said:The only real flaw in this movie is Jennifer Garner. Seriously. It goes from being an absolute epic masterpiece to feeling like some cheesy romantic comedy for a few seconds there. The movie pulls you in so deep, and then she just totally "tilts" the vibe every time she's on screen. Such a bummer. It was just bad casting—she definitely doesn't have the heavy-hitting charisma needed for a role this intense.

I heard Halle Berry actually turned it down (which isn't perfect either, but she would’ve been way better here).
Matthew McConaughey—hands down one of the best performances of the last 20 years. Honestly, he belongs right up there with the all-time greats. It’s wild to think it's the same guy; his talent is just insane. It really makes you wonder how many incredible actors are still hiding out because they'd rather take those mindless, cookie-cutter roles just to chase a paycheck and some quick fame. Some of the stuff McConaughey pulled off here, especially in the first half, was nothing short of a miracle. Pure magic.
Jared Leto—same deal. He killed it too.

Facts. Matthew absolutely crushed this role.

Great movie. Aside from Wolf, it's easily the best thing I've watched all year.

In my estimation, he stands out as the finest among the Oscar nominees. Granted, none of them were truly spectacular—but then again, an Oscar isn't exactly a guarantee of greatness, is it? It seems to me that Matthew's physical transformation helped his acting, though perhaps it's more accurate to say he simply started landing superior roles.

I first fell for Matthew back when he was playing those gritty detectives in 😢

Matthew McConaughey was great. Solid, interesting movie, I guess. Maybe an 8/10.

Gary Ross3 said:In my estimation, he stands out as the finest among the Oscar nominees. Granted, none of them were truly spectacular—but then again, an Oscar isn't exactly a guarantee of greatness, is it? It seems to me that Matthew's physical transformation helped his acting, though perhaps it's more accurate to say he simply started landing superior roles.

I first fell for Matthew back when he was playing those gritty detectives in 😢

Matthew finally became a total badass. 😁

McConaughey is a fantastic actor, but I don't think this role is one of his absolute best. I’m just not a huge fan of those "socially conscious" movies—they often feel like your typical, mid-tier tear-jerkers. That said, Jared Leto is absolutely incredible.

Great movie, highly recommend it to everyone.

McConaughey is at his absolute best here... 🙂

I find myself in complete agreement... It truly feels as though Matthew McConaughey delivered the performance of a lifetime here. I suspect it will be quite difficult for anyone to top this; his acting was nothing short of brilliant ☕ The film itself is also an absolute masterpiece

The movie didn't really move me—not particularly. The story itself is actually quite incredible, which is why I feel like they missed the mark by not making a much better film. Jared Leto was fantastic, while Matthew McConaughey was good, though not quite at that same level for me. They missed the chance to create something truly emotional; everything just felt a bit surface-level. I have a close friend who is HIV positive, so I know firsthand the mental toll this takes—both past and present—which made the portrayal feel pretty unauthentic and shallow to me.

6/10

It really depends on who you ask, but honestly, you have to look at the context of the story. This was definitely MM's most mature performance yet, and man, Jared Leto really proved he can play in the big leagues too...
Given how much competition there was, he totally earned that Oscar. There were even moments where MM actually outshined DiCaprio, especially during those scenes in Wolf of Wall Street that same year, so... Leo will probably get his turn next time.🙂

Amanda Robinson4 said:It really depends on who you ask, but honestly, you have to look at the context of the story. This was definitely MM's most mature performance yet, and man, Jared Leto really proved he can play in the big leagues too...
Given how much competition there was, he totally earned that Oscar. There were even moments where MM actually outshined DiCaprio, especially during those scenes in Wolf of Wall Street that same year, so... Leo will probably get his turn next time.🙂

What happens when someone finally breaks out of their usual mold to win an Oscar? Personally, I didn't feel this was even aiming for an Oscar—though I don't recall the full lineup of nominees. Leo was solid in Wolf, but was it enough for an Oscar? I'm not sure. Ultimately, the film itself feels like a missed opportunity; it had potential, but instead, it just ends up feeling like typical, superficial Hollywood fare.

I don't get why everyone is acting so shocked by Jared. This isn't even his first rodeo when it comes to playing intense, heavy roles. If you ask me, this performance is actually pretty weak compared to what he did in that movie

Jeremy Kim57 said:What happens when someone finally breaks out of their usual mold to win an Oscar? Personally, I didn't feel this was even aiming for an Oscar—though I don't recall the full lineup of nominees. Leo was solid in Wolf, but was it enough for an Oscar? I'm not sure. Ultimately, the film itself feels like a missed opportunity; it had potential, but instead, it just ends up feeling like typical, superficial Hollywood fare.

I mean, let's be real, Oscars haven't really been about quality for ages. Now it's all just glamour and guessing games, and honestly, the guessing isn't even fun anymore since you can practically see the winners coming from a mile away via the betting odds.

I remember how bummed everyone was when Leo didn't snag one for Wolf, even though he’s definitely pulled off better roles than this. But hey, that's just how the Academy rolls. They hand out awards for "contribution to the industry" more than actual talent sometimes. You see directors and actors win Oscars for mediocre stuff just because the competition was weak that year.

Meanwhile, the people making actual masterpieces don't even get a look-in against the heavy hitters. The Oscars are basically a propaganda machine, but occasionally, a genuinely good film or a stellar performance manages to slip through the cracks. Dallas Buyers Club was actually pretty solid, just like every other year when a few decent ones happen to show up...

Nancy Williams58 said:I don't get why everyone is acting so shocked by Jared. This isn't even his first rodeo when it comes to playing intense, heavy roles. If you ask me, this performance is actually pretty weak compared to what he did in that movie

Personally, I wasn't really feeling it here either. It's like he's only just now trying out Method acting after putting in all that work. That role that got him an Oscar, and even Joker from what I can see, were both top-tier performances... real quality acting.

Plus, he felt a bit too "green" to me in Mr. Nobody. He’s not bad! Not at all! But it feels like his characters have only really started to feel alive in his last few films.

Catch it tonight on PBS at 9:35 PM. If you’ve already seen it, it's worth a rewatch; if not, do yourself a favor and tune in. 😁