“I saw a guy who was a dreamer and who was lonely, isolated, and who could never finish anything[.] He was aimless and the irony is it took him having HIV to help him find a goal.” —Matthew McConaughey on his character Ron Woodroof

I was bummed when I didn’t get to see Dallas Buyers Club at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, but for some reason ever since I saw the trailer I knew this was going to be my favorite movie all year. Why? Well, I don’t really know exactly. Maybe because Jared Leto plays a sweet transgender named Rayon and is virtually unrecognizable? Or maybe because HOLY SH*T, that’s Matthew McConaughey (he lost 50 pounds for the role)?

Jean-Marc Vallée’s Dallas Buyers Club, which comes out on November 1st, is a story inspired by true events about electrician and cowboy Ron Woodroof (McConnaughey). He gets the news nobody ever wants to have to hear: he is HIV positive and given 30 days to live. Which is ironic, because this roughed up Texan spent the good part of his life as a homophobic, completely ignoring the subculture altogether.

As his life is suddenly turned upside down and the last of his days are ticking away, he seeks alternative medicine that counteracts HIV/AIDS across the border that isn’t available in the USA due to FDA regulations. Meeting an unlikely business partner Rayon (Leto, who also lost a significant amount of weight for his role and even stayed in character the whole time on set), the two work together to start a club by smuggling the medicine back to those who need it most. In exchange for a membership fee, the patients are guaranteed a supply of the life-changing drugs.

Jennifer Garner also appears as Dr. Eve Saks, and I’m sensing there might be some romance between her and Woodroof, despite you know, Woodroof’s illegalities with the FDA, but I really have no idea. But I do know this one’s going to be good.

(source: Twin Cities; photo via ABC News)