THE film opens at a rodeo ring where Ron (Matthew McConaughey) is engaged in unprotected sex with two women in the bull stall.

A few days later at work, he is electrocuted and regains consciousness at Dallas Mercy Hospital where Dr Nathan Sevard (Denis O’Hare) and colleague Dr Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner) deliver the hammer blow: blood tests have confirmed that Ron is HIV-positive.

"Based on your condition, we estimate that you have about 30 days to get your affairs in order," Dr Sevard tells Ron.

"I got a news flash for y’all," barks the patient, "there ain’t nothin’ out there that can kill Ron Woodroof in 30 days."

Very quickly, Ron accepts the diagnosis and travels to Mexico to source non FDA-approved AZT from Dr Vass (Griffin Dunne).

The medic shatters Ron’s hopes.

“The only people AZT helps are the people who sell it. It kills every cell it comes in contact with, good and bad,”

confides Dr Vass, who prescribes other drugs and vitamins.

This cocktail keeps Ron alive and he goes into business with an HIV-positive transvestite called Rayon (Jared Leto) to peddle the same pills to gay men living with the virus.

Tivoil, Tiverton NEED FOR SPEED (12A) 131mins – special advance screening Wednesday/Thursday 8.15pm.

THE LEGO MOVIE (U) 101mins – Saturday/Sunday 2.30pm. Free Birds (U) 91mins Saturday/Sunday 12.15pm.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (15) 117mins – Friday to Tuesday 7.45pm; Saturday/Sunday 5pm; Wednesday/Thursday 5.30pm; Thursday 2.45pm.

Wellesley, Wellington THE BOOK THIEF (12A) – Daily (excluding Sunday, March 9 and Thursday 13) 7.45pm, Sunday, March 9, 4.30pm, Thursday, March 13, 2.30pm, Extra show, Saturday, March 8, 4.30pm.

THE LEGO MOVIE (U) Saturday-Sunday 2pm.

NATIONAL THEATRE – WARHORSE (ENCORE) – Thursday, March 13, 7pm.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE – The Sleeping Beauty – Wednesday, March 19, 7.15pm.

ELTON JOHN – “THE MILLION DOLLAR PIANO” – LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS – Saturday, March 22, 8pm