Hats off to Matthew McConaughey here as he takes method acting to an whole new level. He must have lost nearly half of his body weight as he dons the role of Ron Woodruff. Woodroof is a fairly odious womanising bigot at the height of the AIDS epidemic who carries on his life recklessly assuming that he is in no danger. Well, he is soon disabused of that by a doctor who informs him that a life of casual shagging and intravenous drug use has seen him become HIV+ and likely to have about one month left to live! Initially disrespectful and sceptical, he begins to read up on the disease and realises that it’s no joke - and there is no treatment. Determined to thwart the grim reaper for as long as he can, he decides to take matters into his own hands and try out some of the un-licensed “treatments” being touted about in everywhere from Mexico to Germany. Indeed, before long he has turned his erstwhile dealing skills to better use and is importing drugs galore - all of which are, in themselves, perfectly legal - which he hopes will provide a cocktail of armament against the virus. Needless to say, the authorities take a very dim view on his peddling of untried and untested medication and frequently attempt to shut him down, even though they have no alternative to his suck it and see solutions. Along the way, “Eve” (Jennifer Garner) - one of the original doctors whom he consulted, realises that official channels are failing not just him, but hundreds like him and so decides to jump ship and help with the cause that he and his pal “Rayon” (Jared Leto) have taken to their hearts with their monthly “club”. There are three really powerful and convincing performances here and it’s certainly the best I’ve seen from Leto as he actually seems to relate to his character in a way that he can’t often be accused of. McConaughey almost sweats his part as he marries Woodroof’s initial profligacy with an increasing sense of purpose that cannot fail to impress as he not only defies the original prognosis (by quite a few years) but by also raising the profile of this killer and puncturing some of the myths that had evolved around it’s “gay plague” status. The writing is real, gritty and often quite darkly funny; the pace of the film hits the ground running and rarely pauses for breath and the assessment of the political and pharmaceutical indifference/intransigence is powerfully evoked throughout this rather fortifying story of just how much difference can be made when courage is coupled with determination. It’s not for the squeamish, but it’s a film that desensitises potently without any rose-tinting.
