Essay Sample on Theme of AIDS in Movies: Dallas Buyers Club and the Philadelphia

Dallas Buyers Club

In the film, Dallas Buyers Club, there are portrayals of the queer culture in different scenes. Rayon, who is one of the main actors is a transgender, straight woman. Dallas Buyers Club consists of different characters; some of these characters are straight, homophobic and have interest in the gay community. Therefore, as the member of the above community, it is quite upsetting to see members of the family treated in such a utilitarian way (Ford, 2017). The queer culture is reflected in different perspectives of the film. Ron Woodroof, who is one of the actors, got involved in some forms of pro-gay activism (Ford, 2017). All his actions are undertaken in the service of self-preservation and as a result, he remains as the compelling and unsettling ambivalent figure. Succinctly, Ron Woodroof had a warming relationship with Rayon, specifically in the grocery store scene, a situation where Ron Woodroof defended his business partner against the gay insults from his former friends.

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From the movie, Rayon is one of the most convincingly and subtly queer characters, like many other characters in the film, she possesses a mix of vices and virtues, she is in love with both her boyfriend and a lady, and in other words, she is a lesbian, a very queer culture. Additionally, her interest is positive towards the gay community. The role that she is plating fits her position in the movie because of her tragic flaws, a notable queer individual would never have an interest in working in collaboration with Woodroof. In the film, Woodroof was a real individual who fought, suffered and finally died from AIDS (Copier & Steinbock, 2018). Additionally, he was also straight. Correspondingly, Rayon, though not real, is a persuasive queer character. Therefore, it is in order to appreciate the queer characters who happened to be messy or sad. The above observations indicate that there are portrayals of queer cultures in the Dallas Buyers Club.

Philadelphia Movie

In the Philadelphia movie, there is a lack of boldness and realism when it comes to the presentation of intimate relationships. For instance, Andy's character portrays the gay's cliche. More specifically, the above scenario is observable when Andy contract HIV AIDS in the gay porn theatre. The narrative of the Philadelphia film is impartially straightforward, leaving little room for metaphoric or symbolic meanings. The movie even avoids the use of coded messages that may be picked by the gay people. Some few scenes seem to be directed towards the gay viewers. For instance, Andy flashback to the porn films and the athletic club owners after realizing that his boss is homophobic is a clear portrayal of the queer culture.

Additionally, Joe being cruised inside the drug store; and Andy's caregiver gaze for a few seconds on-screen is another scene that justifies the existence of queer culture in the movie. The above scenes are fundamental since the "gay gaze" of the viewers is essential in reading them; besides, they may become a comic or meaningless without the application of gay viewpoint. From the Philadelphia movie, while testifying in the trial sequence, Andy recollects his encounter with Robert in the cinema as Demme gives a flashback that takes a few seconds of the film. In other words, the above characters were on the sexual encounter; this, therefore, indicates the queer culture in the movie. There are anonymous same sex encounters in various scenes of the Philadelphia film, and this is not the only sole instance of hustling in the Philadelphia films, it is also the encounter where Andy contract HIV AIDS.

Highlight of AIDS

AIDS is highlighted in the two movies in various ways. From the two films, there is an adequate representation of ideas about the realities of HIV and AIDS. The raw, overwhelming veracity of HIV and AIDS is registered with the total force, thereby increasing its humane popularity. Most medical formations are anti-human and in "Dallas Buyers Club" characterized by the remarkably inventive performance by Mathew McConaughey as the main actor, present an emotionally potent case concerning the rights of the ill. Jean-Marc Vallee reveals constant struggles that HIV-infected persons undergoes in everyday struggle (Dean, 2007). The two films reveal constant struggles that HIV-infected persons undergo in everyday struggle. From the two films, there is an elaboration of the causes, consequences and the nature of AIDS among the same sex partners. The AIDS transmission in the movie is through the same sex encounters, a situation that was widely portrayed in most of the scenes. When Philadelphia film became popular in the year 1993, HIV AIDS was a cloistered disease across the globe and a social anomaly in most parts of the world. The risk taker, American director, who was also the director of the movie, "The Silence of the Lambs" almost made it open to the public. A ground-breaking but a politically correct film, Denzel Washington, the AIDS-afflicted protagonists, and a crusading lawyer and Tom Hanks, the lead director catalyzed the movie for mass appeal.

Jean-Marc Vallee in the film "Dallas Buyers Club," takes a position on one of the debates about HIV AIDS in America. After the precarious success of the medical science, philanthropists and non-profit groups in tackling it, taking sides kept the issues of HIV popular. From the two films, there is an effective representation of ideas about the realities of HIV and AIDS.

Characters Differences and Similarities

The two films, Dallas Buyers Club and the Philadelphia portray different characters that undertake different roles. Ron Woodroof acted as an HIV positive character to highlight the AIDS in Dallas Buyers Club. The differences in characters are perceived in the roles that they play to reveal or to bring out the themes of the two movies. Additionally, some other characters undertook the roles to depict the queer culture in the two films. In other words, characters such as Rayon, Andy and Demme played different roles in different scenes to portray the queer culture in both the Dallas Buyers Club and Philadelphia films. Specifically, Andy's character portrays the gay's cliche. More specifically, the above scenario is observable when Andy contract HIV AIDS in the gay porn theatre.

Acting Style

From the two films, Philadelphia and the Dallas Buyers Club, there is the use of emotional memory as the basis for the actor's performance. For instance, in some scenes, Woodroof applies the emotional memory to bring out the queer culture in the two films. There is also an attempt to achieve authenticity among the actors. Every character plays a role that they can best achieve authenticity as required. There is the "repetition exercise" that assist actors using their own natural instincts and lose their reliance on the script. Roy Woodroof and Andy used a lot of improvisation to bring out more realism in the performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dallas Buyers Club consists of different characters; some of these characters are straight, homophobic and have interest in the gay community. AIDS is highlighted in the two movies in various ways. From the two films, there is an adequate representation of ideas about the realities of HIV and AIDS. The raw, overwhelming veracity of HIV and AIDS is registered with the total force, thereby increasing its humane popularity. In the Philadelphia movie, there is a lack of boldness and realism when it comes to the presentation of intimate relationships.

References

Copier, L., & Steinbock, E. (2018). On Not Really Being There: Trans* presence/absence in Dallas Buyers Club. Feminist Media Studies, 18(5), 923-941.

Dean, J. J. (2007). Gays and Queers: From The Centering To The Decentering Of Homosexuality In American Films. Sexualities, 10(3), 363-386.

Ford, A. (2017). The Dallas Buyers Club: who's buying it? Transgender Studies Quarterly, 4(1), 135-140.