On D List of Movie Reviews
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Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
8/14
8/14:
I've said this before that Matthew McConaughey is a talented actor.
For Dallas Buyers Club, he scored an Oscar. However, it's not a great performance as advertised; it's rather ordinary.
Apparently, Matthew McConaughey sacrificed around ten to fifteen years of his life by taking the Christian Bale route in terms
of drastic weight loss, which is fifty pounds in four months, for the precious but worthless trophy.
If it's how Hollywood will reward these thespians, then I guess acting as I know it is dead. In all honesty, Matthew
McConaughey looks ghastly...like death on a stick. I was rather concerned for his heath than interested in his performance.
On the other hand, Jared Leto, who's talented and also lost forty pounds, is somewhat better than his co-star,
but his character isn't memorable. In fact, he was much better in
Requiem for a Dream, convincing me that he could be a solid, serious actor.
As for the story, I find it extreme and unbelievable. I can't sympathize with either of the characters. Perhaps if they would
stop drinking, abusing illegal drugs, and engaging in reckless unsafe sex so much, I might believe in the efficacy of their
radical treatments. So, no...I'm not convinced, and of course, like all Hollywood films, the truth is rather distorted.
The camera work is sometimes atrocious and unprofessionally handled. Most of the shots should be moved farther back, so
I can see more of the ambience. The first hour is bad, but the second is slightly improved. All the
mistakes committed here have been the reasons why I rarely view anything made after the year of 2000.
All in all, Dallas Buyers Club is nothing special, and the two Oscar-winning performances by Matthew McConaughey and
Jared Leto are average.