Dare to Live

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn, Denis O'Hare, Michael O'Neill, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne, Kevin Rankin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting for a life I ain't got time to live." – Ron Woodruff

Why watch this? The performances by McConaughey and Leto both won Oscars.

Plot Summary: This biographical drama tells the true story of Ron Woodroof, a Texas electrician diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s. Faced with a bleak prognosis and limited treatment options, he begins seeking out alternative therapies and smuggling unapproved drugs into the United States. Woodroof's journey leads him to establish a "buyers club" to distribute these treatments to other individuals with AIDS, challenging the medical establishment and fighting for the rights of patients.

Dad's Preview: This is the film that will hold your attention like few do. This fact is enhanced by two stellar acting performances. The first is Jared Leto, as a young trans woman who is also a drug-addict and HIV-positive. Just wow. The second is McConaughey, who transforms, both mentally and physically, into a man whose body is dying. His performance is captivating. You will cringe, cheer, and scream with rage. Some of you may even find some empathy for those who suffer from this terrible scourge. That is my hope, anyway.

Truth Entertainment, Voltage Pictures; Focus Features