Hollywood convinces with an adventurous and fact-based story from the early phase of the AIDS crisis.
It's hard to tell which is the worse news for Ron Woodroof: that he, the homophobic straight macho, has been diagnosed with the "gay plague" or that the hospital doctor predicts that he will live for no more than 30 days. Because they have nothing to offer him medically: in 1985, the first HIV drugs are only in a test phase, but not yet on the market. Although Woodroof tricked his way into taking the promising drug AZT from one of the few selected trial participants, this only worsened his state of health.
A clever business system: the Dallas Buyers Club
But Woodroof does not give up. When he scouts out a doctor in Mexico who sells unauthorised drugs and immune-boosting preparations, Ron senses a double opportunity: to survive and to make a big business. He smuggles the drugs, which are not authorised in the USA, into the country in cartons. The drug-addicted transsexual Rayon, whom he met in an AIDS support group, organises distribution networks in the gay scene. Ron has devised a clever business system to circumvent the health authorities' regulations. Instead of selling the drugs, he gives them away for free to all members of his own Dallas Buyers Club, who have to pay a hefty monthly fee. Oscar-nominated: Jared Leto as the transsexual Rayon.
Winning stories from clever loser types
This adventurous hussar play from the early days of the AIDS crisis is by no means an invention. The rough-and-tumble underdog Ron and his Dallas Buyers Club really did exist, providing all the ingredients for a typical blockbuster. Hollywood loves winning stories about clever loser types who outwit the system in an original way. Especially when the anti-heroes also undergo a development from prejudiced reactionaries to tolerant philanthropists. However, AIDS stories are still considered a major financial risk in the film metropolis and "Philadelphia" is a notable exception. And yet the Franco-Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée ("The Young Victoria") happily ignores all of the steep templates for classic Hollywood kitsch with aplomb.
Ron, who is addicted to sex and gambling, remains only partially likeable to the end because he is always very selfish, and his opponents - doctors, pharmaceutical and government representatives - are not stylised as the ultimate bad guys. Woodroof smuggles drugs into the country. The fact that Matthew McConaughey ("Magic Mike"), until now mostly subscribed to the type of the well-built sunny boy, has starved himself of a frightening number of kilos for this role may demand great respect from some.
Tension and complexity
More importantly, however, he is able to show Ron in all his inner conflict and complexity. As a charming puke, as a courageous arsehole - and as an adaptive reactionary. The friendship with Rayon also remains ambivalent to the end, but is characterised by growing mutual respect. Jared Leto deserves credit for keeping his character of Rayon free of the usual flat fag and tranny clichés, right up to his fight for a dignified death, and showing him as a broken but deeply human and strong character. It is quite possible that Leto will receive an Oscar for this in March. But McConaughey is also nominated for an Academy Award with good reason. Let's keep our fingers crossed for them!
"Dallas Buyers Club".USA 2013, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. With Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner. 117 minutes, cinema release: 6 February.
To the German film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb5-PT78v-Q
