DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

Matthew McConaughey, it's fair to say, has had some stinkers in his career. Fool's Gold, Failure to Launch and Sahara spring to mind. However, the actor seems to be on a mission to show the world what he is capable of.

What has become known as the 'McConaissance', which started with The Lincoln Lawyer in 2011, has seen McConaughey select roles more wisely. He no longer appears in romantic comedy after romantic comedy. He chooses roles that have worked wonders for his acting credibility.

Dallas Buyers Club is a film that will make you, if you haven't already, stand up and take notice of McConaughey once and for all. 

Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) and Rayon (Jared Leto)

Dallas Buyers Club tells the story of Ron Woodroof, a hustler in 1985 Dallas, who looks to go against the system and help AIDs patients with the medication to help them after he himself is diagnosed with the disease.

It is a story of a man doing wrong to help those in desperate need, including himself. It is a film that will have you rooting for Woodroof in his fight against the authorities. It is a film that is driven by a wonderful performance by McConaughey.

The 'McConaissance' has seen McConaughey build up quite a screen presence that has involved being the lead man in Mud and stealing scenes in a brief appearance in The Wolf of Wall Street. Dallas Buyers Club is his best performance to date though. 

Strutting around looking like a cross between Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York and Trevor Reznik from The Machinist, McConaughey brings a charisma to Woodroof that makes him so likeable to the audience.

He has won many awards in the build up to the Academy Awards, making him the favourite for the golden statue. I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say it would be deserved.

Another performance in Dallas Buyers Club that deserves a lot of praise is that of Jared Leto as Rayon, Woodroof's transvestite partner. I have only ever seen Leto a couple of times before in film but his turn as Rayon is very impressive indeed. Don't be surprised if he walks away with an Academy Award this March as well.

Dealing with a sensitive issue such as AIDs is always tricky and I think director, Jean-Marc Vallee, deserves a lot of credit for bringing this story to our screens without letting the issue take a back seat. AIDs is a disease that ruins lives and Dallas Buyers Club more than gets this point across.

Dallas Buyers Club is by no means a groundbreaking film but it is a film that could well see the 'McConaissance' reach its peak with the Academy Award for Best Actor at the Oscars come March 2nd. In my opinion, the only people that stand in his way are Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leonardo Di Caprio.

Verdict: 3.5/5