Margot Robbie stars as former Olympic ice skater Tonya Harding in Craig Gillespie's 2017 biographical drama. The film features a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Allison Janney, Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan. The 119-minute affair follows both the rise and downfall of the disgraced skater.
The film begins in Tonya's early life when viewers become acquainted with a 4-year-old Tonya and her foul-mouthed, abusive mother, LaVona Golden (Allison Janney). As Tonya's career progresses, it soon becomes evident that she lacks the grace, beauty and lifestyle of her other competitors. However, with the help of Dianne Rawlinson (Julianne Nicholson), she soon overcomes these obstacles and begins to make a name for herself. During her teen years, she meets her future husband Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). Their toxic relationship accompanies Tonya throughout the film and her career.
Tonya's first encounter with the Winter Olympics doesn't go as planned, which sets her on a spiral of emotional and physical turmoil. Her relationship with Jeff becomes more violent, and Tonya finds herself working at a restaurant to make ends meet. Now, if you've heard anything about Tonya Harding, it's probably her involvement in the brutal attack on Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. Her suspected involvement didn't stop Harding from competing in the 1994 Winter Olympics. Once the Olympics are over, Harding is on trial, resulting in her receiving a lifetime ban from the U.S. Figure Skating Association. However, her accomplices (Jeff Gillooly, Shawn Eckhardt Shane Stant and Derrick Smith) were all also brought to trial and sentenced to two years in prison.
Margot Robbie gives a career-defining performance as the tarnished skater. She perfectly displays Tonya's strong-minded personality and isn't afraid to let her emotions shine through. Sebastian Stan does an impressive job of showing the contrast between when he was still involved with Tonya, to when he's being interviewed about the events. Her now-estranged mother, Lavona, is played by the tour-de-force that is Allison Janney. She perfectly plays the role of the coarse, potty-mouthed mother she is. The film's Roshmon format is emphasised by the incredible performances each cast member provides. A prime example is when viewers see Tonya chasing Jeff through the house with a shotgun.
Despite Robbie training extensively for four months for her role, CGI was still needed for the graceful skating throughout the film. However, during close-ups, viewers will immediately notice the poor quality of the CGI. In some shots, Robbie's face seems to be blatantly pasted over her two skating doubles (Anna Malkova and Heidi Munger). Nicolas Karakatsanis provides 'I, Tonya' with a smooth, unique appearance, and the 35mm film adds another layer of detail to the film.
If you're in the mood for more biographical films after watching 'I, Tonya', consider sinking your teeth into films like 'Molly's Game' and 'Stronger'. But if you're interested in Tonya Harding's story, the 2014 documentary 'The Price of Gold' should be the film for you.
Gillespie makes sure to bring up the complex themes that feature throughout 'I, Tonya'. Some of the heavy themes and ideas the film deals with include how the media treats people, how far your passion can push you and the ones you love and how sometimes people can perceive physical and emotional abuse as a form of affection. The film shines an in-depth light on the toxicity that surrounds competitive sport and how far some will go for victory.
In conclusion, 'I, Tonya' is an acerbic, vehement film that tells the emotional story of Tonya Harding and her rise to (and fall from) fame. It features a star-studded cast, stylish costumes and impressive filmmaking.
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