Wow...what a ride its been for the Texas born actor/exhibitionist/sexiest man alive! From Dazed and Confused to playing bongo drums naked, to his growth as a leading man and now, Best Actor Oscar Winner!!! We have so enjoyed watching Matthew McConaughey's rise to iconic status! (OK...most of us have enjoyed watching him pick up a phone, walk down a street, or simply breathing for that matter!!! Insert "cat call" whistles here!)...But in all seriousness, People Magazine's 2005 pick for Sexiest Man Alive is so full of true substance and character it almost insults the integrity of his body of work to speak of him in purely superficial terms. (I'll do my best but won't make any promises!). This is a man who stands out as one of the "Greats" and I can't think of another more deserving of the highest honor bestowed upon an actor than him this past Sunday! 
Backstage with His Oscar for Dallas Buyer's Club
Born November 4th, 1969 in Uvalde, Texas, he enjoyed the simpler things in life. A talented athlete excelling in such sports as golf and baseball, and voted "Most Handsome" by his classmates, it was blatantly apparent great things were ahead for him. He oozed good looks, a relaxed, laid back attitude, unparalleled charisma, confidence, and, contrary to popular perception, he had a brain too! Graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993, it wasn't long before this larger than life, very attractive, guy would be thrown into the spotlight!
Picture courtesy of www.backtoglam.com "Thank you!"
That same year he was cast as David Wooderson in the 1970's based coming of age flick, Dazed and Confused. (Alright, alright, alright, most people remember it as a "Stoner" movie. For my purpose...its coming of age. And that is that!) Landing a small role as the typical, H.S. graduate who had no plans for higher education, and famous for "trolling for chicks", not to mention a creeper...Wooderson stole every scene he was in and every catch phrase to come out of that movie all goes back to him! From the first words he ever spoke on screen, now heard around the world, (which, by the way, to my generation in "the know" is considered as a nod as if to personally address all of us like "Hey ya'll, can you even believe this! Wooderson has an Oscar!" and we LOVE him for it!!!). No matter how many articles come out explaining that famous phrase to everyone who is playing catch up, even offering new revelations about how he was "inspired by Jim Morrison" and "improvised" leaving out one "alright", I have only a few things to say to you..."I get older, they stay the same age", don't know what that means???..."Cooler if you did!". Point is, his character was a side piece, bordering on the verge of an "extra"! But there was just something extraordinary about this actor, and his destiny was sealed from then on. Proving there are no Small Roles for this man; when he graced the "Big Screen" he was larger than life even before he ever uttered the first "Alright". All he had to do was stand against the wall and we all just knew he was going to say something cool! And, wow...coolness was forever re-defined!
Oh Wooderson...
In 1996, he stole our hearts as well as co-star Sandra Bullock's (don't believe the rumors...they were just friends...), proving his acting chops alongside such greats as Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, and, Donald Sutherland! (OK, Ashley Judd was in it too but her beauty was overshadowed by his sex appeal and her acting wasn't on par with the rest so, consider my mention of her as being courteous. No offense Ashley...Keep looking pretty!) Anyway, playing an attorney (Jake Brigance) defending a father (played by Samuel L.) who had waited inside the courtroom to murder the man who beat and left his precious daughter to die, taking the law into his own hands. In a world full of racists and a thick KKK poisoned community, there was no way Carl Lee was going to get a fair trial by a jury of his peers. Risking his own life, and his wife and daughter, Jake takes the case and his closing argument was the only thing standing between Carl Lee and the Death Penalty. Bridging the gap between black and white, exposing and unearthing injustice and exploitation in its most heart-wrenching form...This film is, to this day, one of my absolute favorites. And it is my opinion he should have won the Oscar then! Samuel L. was nominated for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" by the Golden Globes for his role, and it is also my opinion he too was robbed!
"Hell yea I think he deserved to die and I hope he burns in hell!!!" ~ Carl Lee
Roles kept coming for McConaughey. Playing alongside Jody Foster in Contact in 1997, but who cared about that movie! The real story that same year was his landing a starring role in the movie Amistad!!! Based on a true story and set in 1839 about a mutiny on a slave ship, and upping his game this time performing with the great Sir Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman (not to leave out Djimon Hansou, the beautiful West African born Actor/Model for his incredible performance! Djimon continued to take our breath away in such movies as Gladiator and Blood Diamond). Again, Oscar greatness skipped over Matthew handing out nominations for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" to Hopkins and none for Mr. Hey Hey Hey! Even the Golden Globes snubbed him, but did nominate Hopkins and Hansou so, I give them some credit for that...but just a little because Amistad remains one of those rare glimpses into an actor such as McConaughey's undeniable potential to dig down deep and really become his character. It was clear, then, as it is acknowledged today, that when it comes to talent, there is no end to what he could do...his depth and commitment is astounding!
The Amistad Case
After dazzling us again movies such as Frailty and The Lincoln Lawyer, he never forgot where he came from. He took on lighter roles like Failure to Launch, The Wedding Planner, How to Lose a Guy in 10 days, Surfer Joe, and never felt above smaller performances such as comedic cameo appearances. (Even appearing on a number of episodes of HBO's East Bound and Down!). He shook what his Mama gave him in Magic Mike...I said I'd be good and am going to be...A role, in my humble opinion was far beneath his caliber, however, he was so convincing as Dallas that even fellow actor and True Blood's "Alcide", Joe Manganiello, is now planning on opening a male revue rivaling Chip and Dale's!!! Good luck with that Joe. I thought there would be more for you after True Blood's upcoming Final Season but, to each his own right? Most recently he starred in Mud, was casted in the highly acclaimed and also nominated The Wolf of Wall Street, and finally, FINALLY, wins Best Actor for his portrayal of Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyer's Club! (Although, I see an Emmy in his near future for Rusty Cole, partner of Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) on HBO's True Detective which, as I write this, is the most compelling television serious ever created!!! A metaphysical psycho drama in which both he and Woody are Masterful!!!!
Oh Wooderson, it has been quite a journey since we first met. Thank you for picking us up all those years ago and bringing us along for the ride! We are so proud of you!!!
One last thing...Thanks for the View
and Congratulations!!!! xo
I had to add this one...Couldn't help myself! ;)
