Mere minutes into DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, my husband turned to me and said, "You can't review this for the grandmas!" He said that in response to the opening scene, which is a pretty heavy-duty sex scene.

Throughout the entire movie I kept thinking the same thing. "I can't review this for the grandmas." I even decided I wouldn't share my review here — and watched another film the next night so I'd have one for this space.

But I didn't really like that one, at least not enough to share it with you. I wanted to share DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.

Pshaw! I thought. We're all adults, for heaven's sake, and have likely seen far worse than what goes down in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB. The Grandma's Briefs readers can handle all the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, er, rodeo riding in the movie, I figured. Especially because it's one of those important movies on an important topic. About an actual person, actual events. Featuring impeccable, award-winning acting.

Yes, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB won out for today's review. Just be forewarned: The movie earns its R rating. Meaning, mostly, don't watch it when there are kids around.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB is the true story of Ron Woodroof (played by Matthew McConaughey) and his mission to find an effective medication for AIDS instead of the lethal drugs being given to AIDS patients in the '80s. He sought it not only for himself — a heterosexual recently diagnosed with the unthinkable — but also for the masses suffering from the disease as well as, in many cases, homophobic ostracization.

 

You've surely heard about the awards the movie, the screenwriters, the actors have garnered. I totally get it. Matthew McConaughey deserved each and every best actor award and accolade he received for his role as the real-life, hard-playing, refusing-to-lie-down-and-die rebel that Ron Woodroof apparently was.

And Jared Leto's depiction of the fictional transgender business partner of Woodroof was astounding, inspirational, believable. Never during the film did I see his character as a man in drag, only as the sassy and sweet yet desperate and dying Rayon.

What I loved about the film: The story. Woodroof's bravado. The acting. The film's unflinching heart. The desire to put a face on those early AIDS patients who were treated rather inhumanely by the doctors and drug companies... and by much of society, too.

I also enjoyed seeing Jennifer Garner in a role unlike others she's played. Same goes for the typically zany Steve Zahn in a very un-zany role, proving he can do far more in a film than elicit laughs.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (rated R for "pervasive language, some strong sexual content, nudity and drug use") is available on Bluray, DVD and digitally. Want more? The DALLAS BUYERS CLUB official site features videos, photos and additional information.