Dallas Buyers Club premiered this past Saturday (9/7), and reviews were overwelmingly positive, particularly for the already much-discussed performance of Matthew McConaughey as AIDS sufferer Ron Woodroof. Woodroof, as nearly everyone has noted, is not a likeable fellow, but as noted by Variety’s Peter Debruge, “McConaughey commits to the character so fully, he never lets himself off the hook with that apologetic wink so often tossed off when actors play someone whose politics they don’t necessarily share.” Even critics who had a more negative opinion of the film agreed that it was still worth watching based on McConaughey’s performance as Woodroof alone. With the odd (but marked) exception, praise for Jared Leto as Woodroof’s transvestite business partner Rayon was nearly as high. The other elements of the film, including Jennifer Garner, are generally agreed to make the tapestry on which Ron’s story is told, but plenty serviceable. Turning again to Debruge to sum it up, he rather cleverly opines, “Rave reviews for both actors [McConaughey and Leto] should draw mainstream auds to one of the year’s most vital and deserving indie efforts.”

For a more in-depth look at Dallas Buyers Club, see our previous coverage.

See what audiences and critics are saying about more festival premiers here.