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What To Watch Thursday is Overdose’s much needed film injection: every Thursday we will tell you which cinematographic pearls can’t be missed! This week, it’s all about the Oscars.
Dallas Buyers Club
Anticipation: Matthew McConaughey deservedly received his first Academy Award nod this year for his role in Texas set AIDS themed drama Dallas Buyers Club. The film received an overwhelming amount of six nominations in total, including best picture and best screenplay. And rightfully so. Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée broke out on the scene some ten years ago with the slightly similar themed C.R.A.Z.Y, which received much critical acclaim but failed to reach big audiences. As last week both McConaughey and the film’s supporting actor Jared Leto received some love at the annual Golden Globes awards – although not without controversy – it seems the three of them are now finally accepted as being part of the A-list in Hollywood.
Appreciation: This is the apparently true story of accidental AIDS activist Ron Woodruff (McConaughey) who decides to work around the heavily corrupted medical system to try and get his hands on the right HIV medicine. At the time very little was known about the disease, and when Woofdruff, a Dallas born and overtly homophobic electrician, is diagnosed with it he is immediately ostracised from his familiar surroundings. Very much in denial, he goes on a pretty rough bender, and later finds himself on the verge of death in some Mexican hospital. From this dire predicament Woodruff sets out on a quest for survival. At this point he encounters the transsexual drug-dealer Rayon (Jared Leto) and for better and for worse they team up for life. Obviously, up until this point we have a pretty straightforward Hollywood drama on our hands. But there is more to this film than some might expect: absolutely stunning performances by both leads, rich and compelling cinematography and some heartfelt drama.
Dallas Buyers Club
Length: 117 min.
Verdict: ★★★★ – Vallée neatly colours inside the Hollywood lines, it’s the acting that lifts this film beyond the familiar
Where to see: Kriterion, Pathe City, Pathe Tuschinski, The Movies and Cinecenter.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Anticipation: At age 71 acclaimed director Martin Charles Scorsese should be expect to take it easy – the absolute opposite might be true if we look at his latest picture The Wolf of Wall Street. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in yet another film by Scorsese, and again this seems to be a match made in heaven. This is another apparent true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio) – the wolf here – and his multi-million dollar fraud case. Belfort was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison in the late ’90s and has yet to pay back much of the estimated $200 million he swindled from about 1500 clients. He is touring the world right now as a motivational speaker. Belfort earned more than $2 million for the books and film rights. Food for thought, I would say.
Appreciation: Belfort is portrayed here as a drug fiend who is not in it for the money, but really just for kicks. The film is highly fast-paced and effortlessly entertaining. Although with it’s long running time it can’t feel a little repetitive, Scorsese sure delivers here with this enervating film that has the stench of greed all over it.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Length: 180 min.
Verdict: ★★★★ – Hilarious, adrenaline-packed and nominated for 5 Oscars: can’t be missed!
Where to see: Kriterion, Pathe City, Pathe Tuschinski, The Movies and Cinecenter.
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