Dallas Buyers Club ****

In 1985, Dallas electrician, hustler, and straight homophobe Ron Woodroof learned that he had AIDS. This movie tells the story of his schemes and fights to get drugs and treatment first for himself, and then for others, as the epidemic spread and all drugs were experimental. Matthew McConaughey tackles the role head on and gives us the unvarnished Woodroof, ever the hustler if not the homophobe.

McConaughey, who lost a prodigious amount of weight for the role, is utterly convincing, matched by an arresting performance by Jared Leto as the transgendered Rayon. He also dropped many pounds to play the role believably. I understand Rayon is a synthetic character created to provide a dramatic foil, business partner, sounding board and, I suppose, repository of audience sympathy when Woodroof is too off-putting. Jennifer Garner plays Dr. Eve Saks, physician, researcher, and friend. She is fantastic in a role that demands a wide range of interactions with the mercurial Woodroof.

"Dallas Buyers Club" recreates a time and a culture that should be remembered. Those of us who lived through it will relive many painful moments, but the fighting spirit on display is heartening and some solace. And those who were too young at the time to understand what the AIDS epidemic was doing to so many should see it to get a view and appreciation of the fear and desperation and the halting steps of the government's support for research. See it if you can find it in a theater, because the DVD will likely be delayed until after award season.