.Could Jordan Catalano get an Oscar nomination? That's what we're wondering after seeing the trailer for Jean-Marc Vallée's Dallas Buyers Club, due Nov. 1.
Matthew McConaughey's performance was the rumored one to watch in the drama, which tells the true story of Texan Ron Woodroof, a straight man diagnosed with AIDS in the early 80s who smuggled unapproved treatment drugs into the U.S. to help himself and others live longer. But the trailer is piquing our interest in Leto, who plays Woodroof's fellow patient and eventual partner, a transsexual woman named Rayon.
Leto—dressed as a woman with bright makeup—is essentially unrecognizable, and has raised the pitch of his voice. (Both Leto and McConaughey lost an extraordinary amount of weight for their roles.) He's even credited in the trailer as "and Jared Leto," an honor often given to an actor to whom the filmmakers want to draw attention.
This marks a return to acting for the object of Angela Chase's affection: Leto hasn't appeared in a film since 2009, preferring to focus on his career as a musician in the band Thirty Seconds to Mars. According to Steven Zeitchik of the Los Angeles Times, Gael Garcia Bernal's name was attached to the part, though he never made a deal, and other big names had their doubts about cross-dressing for the role. Though "Vallee barely knew Leto," Zeitchik wrote, "in a Skype meeting, Leto appeared in full drag as Rayon. The director was convinced."
McConaughey, as is to be expected, looks like he's also giving one hell of a performance. We would not be surprised if he ends up vying for best actor while Leto campaigns in the supporting category. Watch the full trailer here: