I, Tonya ****
Some have questioned the making of a film about Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and her ‘crime’, one that appears to give a platform for her side of the story about events leading to an attack on fellow figure skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. Getting another perspective is always the power of cinema, so this is a welcome thing.
What I, Tonya really highlights is how such controversial events came to fruition and just how the cards were always stacked against Harding. That said it is not all-forgiving either. You will also realise after watching why actors Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are deserved of all their awards nominations.
Based on a true story, Tonya Harding (Robbie) has always loved ice skating – it’s the one thing she is good at in a generally miserable existence. Supported by a hard-nosed, alcoholic, single mother, LaVona (Janney), seemingly devoid of maternal instincts but working hard as a waitress to send her daughter to ice-skating lessons, Harding rises in the ranks to represent the U.S.A. in figure skating. However, Tonya’s future is thrown into doubt when her abusive ex-husband, Jeff (Sebastian Stan) intervenes in her career path.
Played out like a pseudo-documentary with characters speaking to camera – the fourth wall – and staged ‘flashbacks’, Craig Gillespie’s film, written for the screen by Steven Rogers, has deliciously comic undertones that almost ‘guilt-trip’ you into sniggering at them. This is the blackest of comedies that places you right into the abusive domestic affray of Tonya’s existence, and is sometimes – and quite surprisingly – an exhausting one to watch when you feel things might be changing for the better for our lead, only for them to come crashing down through outside intervention. Through lighter character traits and deadpan retorts, the sheer force of what you are experiencing gets defused.
Indeed, this film is a very physical one. It is about survival and does not shy away from portraying the physical and mental abuse of Tonya, in particular. Simultaneously, in an uncomfortable way too, it appears to ‘patronise’ those of lesser commonsense and social standing, so again, makes for unsettling viewing, even though the trailer might suggest otherwise.
Robbie is virtually unrecognizable in the role, totally transformed from her Wolf of Wall Street days. Violent, cussing and chain-smoking as Tonya, complete with the proverbial ‘flipping the bird’ to camera, it is a deviant breakout performance from the actress that shows her full potential. However, Janney steals the show as the apparent ‘cold-hearted’ LeVona, with only the suggestion of her tough past through hurtful comments that makes her character even more fascinating when she is on screen. It is without a doubt a part made for Janney’s acting expertise. In fact, the supporting cast is as faultless and quite brilliant too.
I, Tonya is a ‘championing the underdog’ film – whether you believe real-life Tonya deserves it or not, making it powerhouse viewing. The screen power is the strong women in it too, trying to rise above their rubbish lot. The irony is how Tonya ends up – channelling her ‘talents’ the only way how but refusing to go down like a true champ. You have to admire the real-life character for that.
4/5 stars
By @ FilmGazer
by lgileskeddie
Category: Drama
Tags: Allison Janney, Craig Gillespie, I, Margot Robbie, Nancy Kerrigan, Sebastian Stan, Steven Rogers, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Tonya, Tonya Harding