Dallas Buyers Club

Lately Matthew McConaughey has really shown that he is the serious actor that he has always been. After a breakout role in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused, he took on a lot less challenging roles in rom-coms like Fool's Gold, How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days and The Wedding Planner. But over the last few years he is starring in more serious films that showcase his fantastic acting ability. Dallas Buyers Club may be his best ever.

Ron Woodroof (McConaughey) is a homophobic electrician and rodeo cowboy. After a work accident, Ron wakes up in hospital to discover that he is HIV positive and is given only thirty days to live by his doctors. Initially in denial about his condition, Ron soon accepts his fate and begins looking at medicines that can help. After running out of a trial medication, he travels to Mexico to find a doctor who has some medication. The doctor puts him onto a new medication which Ron decides to start selling in the US. In hospital, Ron meets Rayon (Jared Leto), a transgender woman, and the two start doing business together.

McCaonaughey gives a captivating performance as Woodroof. His magnetic acting skills give Woodroof a deep and meaningful character. One scene, where Ron realises how he managed to contract the virus is a true testament to his skill, not to mention his huge weight loss which really showed his dedication to the role.

Jared Leto's return to the screen is with a mesmerising performance as Rayon. This is Leto's first role since the sci-fi flick Mr. Nobody, but he's also had some good roles in Requiem for a Dream and American Psycho. His performance here is absolutely amazing and heartbreaking at the same time.

Verdict: A fantastic film about about a part of the Aids crisis that I knew very little about.