Synopsis: Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.
Cast: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney
Screenplay: Steven Rogers
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Tackling issues like domestic abuse, poverty, social status and the politics of sports, I, TONYA really gives a fair and sympathetic view towards the Olympic ice skater, Tonya Harding. Presents itself using multiple (often conflicting) points of view, this movie chronicles Harding’s life and the events leading up to the assault incident that she’s infamously known for. How her upbringings, which she didn’t have any control over, really shaped her as a person and the poor choices that she made.
Margot Robbie was captivating as the lead role, and deserves the accolades she’s been getting. Though to be honest, her performance felt a little bit over-the-top at times. But in crucial moments, boy did she deliver. I don’t know whether she really did the skating by herself or not, but her skating scenes were incredible; they made me want to cheer for her. Allison Janney, as her abusive mother also stole the scene she’s in, but I found her performance a bit too one-note and one-dimensional.
I hate to say this but I didn’t fall head over heels for this film like a lot of people. It is, by no means, a bad movie, but I just don’t feel it fully maximizes its full potential. The black humor, breaking-the-fourth-wall scenes felt a little contrived and the satire on how media also played a huge part of painting her as a criminal also could be dug a little deeper. But overall, I still think this is a pretty good movie about ambition, determination, and the risks we’re willing to take to chase our dreams. [B]
A copy of my review on Instagram.
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