Focus Features has released a new featurette for director Jean-Marc Vallée’s upcoming drama Dallas Buyers Club.  Based on a true story, the film stars Matthew McConaughey as Texas electrician Ron Woodroof who, after being diagnosed with AIDS in 1986, began to smuggle alternative and illegal treatments into the US and into the hands of other patients.  The featurette does a nice job of showcasing the excellent performances by McConaughey and Jared Leto while also delving into Woodroof’s life story.  I caught the film at TIFF and it’s an emotional look at the AIDS epidemic from a fascinating point of view.  Expect to see McConaughey and Leto as major players in this year’s awards race.

Hit the jump to watch the featurette and click here to read Matt’s review.  The film also stars Jennifer Garner, Denis O’Hare, and Steve Zahn.  Dallas Buyers Club opens in limited released on November 1st.

Here’s the synopsis for Dallas Buyers Club:

In this fact-based drama, Matthew McConaughey portrays real-life Texas electrician Ron Woodroof, an ordinary man who found himself in a life-or-death battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies. In 1985, Ron was blindsided with an HIV diagnosis and given 30 days to live. With medications still restricted in the US and the country still divided over how to combat the virus, Ron procured non-toxic alternative treatments from all over the world through both legal and illegal means. To avoid government sanctions against selling non-approved medicines and supplements, Ron established a “buyers club” for fellow HIV-positive people, giving them access to his supplies.