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'McConaissance': Matthew McConaughey From Rom-Com to Oscars

Michelle Man |
November 7, 2014 | 2:08 p.m. PST

Web Producer

Matthew McConaughey (cinemagreats/tumblr)
Matthew McConaughey (cinemagreats/tumblr)
"Interstellar" will be having its wide release on November 7th, critics and audiences are excited to see what performances Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey will bring to the table. However, McConaughey hadn't always been the serious actor he is today, he was previously known as a "Rom-Com King". Let's take a look back on the "McConaissance" - how McConaughey went from rom-com to the Oscars. 

"Dazed and Confused" (moviegifsthatrock/tumblr)
"Dazed and Confused" (moviegifsthatrock/tumblr)
"Dazed and Confused" (1993)

McConaughey first caught the critics' attention in 1993 with his role as David Wooderson in "Dazed and Confused" where he plays a man in his early 20s who still socializes with high school students. The film soon became a cult classic as with Ben Affleck and Milla Jovovich also playing a role in the film before becoming the stars they are today. 

"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (2003)

After taking a few minor roles, McConaughey became frequently casted in romantic comedies, notably playing Ben Barry in "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days". McConaughey plays an advertising executive who made a bet to make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days, and the woman he chose for his challenge had her own bet - losing a guy in 10 days. The film became a rom-com classic and McConaughey also earned his title of rom-com king.

"The Lincoln Lawyer" (2011)

To break away from being typecast as the king of rom-coms, McConaughey started taking more varied roles such as a head football coach in "We Are Marshall", a district attorney in "Bernie" and an agent in "Tropic Thunder" alongside Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. McConaughey marked his break away from romantic comedies by playing Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who defends mostly criminals, in "Lincoln Lawyer". Despite criticisms of the film's story, McConaughey's acting received positive reviews and the author of the novel the film was based on "couldn't be happier" with McConaughey's portrayal.

"Mud" (2012) 

In 2012, McConaughey continued his goal of taking more complex roles and starred in the independent film "Mud" as a fugitive determined to protect the love of his life. The film received a high 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews praising McConaughey's powerful performance. Although McConaughey still takes comedic roles such as playing a male stripper in "Magic Mike", his reputation of being a rom-com king has already became history. 

"Dallas Buyers Club" (2013)

McConaughey was received recognition for his performance after his role in the biographical film "Dallas Buyers Club". To prepare for his role of playing an AIDS patient in the mid 1980s, McConaughey lost 47 pounds for the role. He stayed indoors for six months to isolate himself and develop a paler skin tone. The performance received universal acclaim and gave McConaughey the opportunity to be nominated and to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards. In the same year, McConaughey played a small but impressive role in "The Wolf of Wallstreet." Here's a video of his performance with his improvised chant:

"True Detective" (2014)

After his evolution on the big screen, McConaughey continues to push his limits by playing Detective Rust Cohle in "True Detective", an eccentric but Sherlock-esque detective. His performance became so notable that he stayed in character for a Lincoln car commercial which went viral and received over a million views. 

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