Loosely based on the true-life tale of Ron Woodroof, a drug-taking, women-loving, homophobic man who in 1986 was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given thirty days to live.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- Ron Woodroof: Matthew McConaughey
- Rayon: Jared Leto
- Dr. Eve Saks: Jennifer Garner
- Tucker: Steve Zahn
- Dr. Sevard: Denis O’Hare
- David Wayne: Dallas Roberts
- Richard Barkley: Michael O’Neill
- T.J.: Kevin Rankin
- Dr. Vass: Griffin Dunne
- Clint: J.D. Evermore
- Nurse Frazin: Donna DuPlantier
- Rayon’s Father: James DuMont
- Denise: Deneen Tyler
- Hispanic Orderly: Ian Casselberry
- Kelly: Noelle Wilcox
- Sunny: Bradford Cox
- Michael: Rick Espaillat
- Foreman: Lawrence Turner
- Freddie: Lucius Falick
- Francine Suskind: Jane McNeill
- Tucker’s Father: Don Brady
- Effeminate Man: Matthew Thompson
- Judge: Tony Bentley
- Border Agent: Sean Boyd
- News Anchor: Rachel Wulff
- Stripper: Neeona Neal
- Mr. Yamata: Scott Takeda
- Rick Ferris: Jonathan Tabler
- Dr. Hiroshi: Joji Yoshida
- FDA Customs Agent: Carl Palmer
- Ian: Martin Covert
- Rog: Douglas M. Griffin
- Cop: David Lichtenstein
- Quicksilver Cowboy: Craig Borten
- Gay Cowboy: Henry Frost
- Rodeo Girl (uncredited): Juliet Reeves London
- Rodeo Girl (uncredited): Jeanine Hill
Film Crew:
- Casting: Kerry Barden
- Makeup Department Head: Robin Mathews
- Executive Producer: Holly Wiersma
- Casting: Paul Schnee
- Production Design: John Paino
- Executive Producer: David L. Bushell
- Producer: Robbie Brenner
- Executive Producer: Cassian Elwes
- Editor: Jean-Marc Vallée
- Writer: Melisa Wallack
- Casting: Rich Delia
- Executive Producer: Nicolas Chartier
- Executive Producer: Zev Foreman
- Writer: Craig Borten
- Executive Producer: Logan Levy
- Producer: Rachel Winter
- Editor: Martin Pensa
- Art Direction: Javiera Varas
- Executive Producer: Joe Newcomb
- Executive Producer: Tony Notargiacomo
- Makeup Artist: Melanie Deforrest
- Executive Producer: Nathan Ross
- Hair Department Head: Adruitha Lee
- Sound Supervisor: Martin Pinsonnault
- VFX Supervisor: Marc Cote
- Co-Producer: Michael Sledd
- Co-Producer: Parry Creedon
- First Assistant Director: Urs Hirschbiegel
- Second Assistant Director: Mark C. Stevens
- Director of Photography: Yves Bélanger
- Costume Design: Kurt Swanson
- Costume Design: Bart Mueller
Movie Reviews:
- furious_iz: **A powerful film about the will to survive and the coldness of big pharma**
Matthew McConaughey gives an amazing performance as Ron Woodroof the homophobic, hard partying electrician/rodeo cowboy who becomes HIV positive due to some poor lifestyle choices. Ostracised by his friends for having what was at the time considered a gay disease he goes on a damaging bender before discovering he has full blown AIDS.
When faced with a death sentence and ineffective drugs approved by the FDA, he heads to Mexico to source and import medication not available in the US, and decides to sell it to help himself and others while making a tidy profit.
Jared Leto is magnetic as Rayon, a drug addicted gay man who becomes Woodroof’s business partner and eventually his friend. Both actors lost a significant amount of weight for the role, which lends real authenticity and gravity to the film.
Made on a shoestring budget, with little to no special effects, this film is all about the story and the performances. The battles with the FDA trying to circumvent red tape, and get people medication they desperately need is frustrating and all too realistic. Big pharma calls the shots, manipulates data and statistics and keeps peddling their toxic expensive medication, while Woodroof battles for the rights to treat himself with medicine he knows works.
It is a David and Goliath story, a look at an era when AIDS was virtually untreatable and running out of control. One man’s battle against bureaucracy told with charm and panache.
8/10