Today, 30 years ago, Nancy Kerrigan was assaulted during a ice skating practice session. 'I, Tonya' delves into the complex life of rival Tonya Harding, exploring the circumstances and motivations surrounding her possible involvement in the incident.
Synopsis
'I, Tonya' is a mockumentary-style biographical film that delves into the life of figure skater Tonya Harding. The movie explores Harding's rise to fame as a talented skater from a challenging background, her tumultuous relationships, and the infamous incident involving her rival Nancy Kerrigan's assault. Blending dark humor and drama, the film presents different perspectives on Harding's life, her struggles, and the events that led to her infamy in the world of figure skating.
Why Today?
On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked during a practice session leading up to the US Figure Skating Championships, a precursor event preceding the Olympics. The assault was orchestrated by rival skater Tonya Harding's ex-husband and an almost unbelievably cartoonish accomplice. This scandal sparked a media frenzy, marking one of the early instances fueling the rise of round-the-clock news cycles that would dominate the 90s, and corrupt the traditional news coverage with sensationalized, tabloid-style stories.
The Kerrigan assault is a significant aspect of 'I, Tonya,' yet the film predominantly delves into Tonya Harding's life, portraying her as a somewhat sympathetic figure. It highlights Harding's remarkable journey—a highly skilled skater emerging from a non-traditional background, overcoming adversity to become a top contender. The film explores her shot at greatness and the eventual self-sabotage that led to her throwing it all away.
This film unquestionably aligns with the underdog narrative we've been fostering in the new year. However, it veers away from the conventional fairy-tale happy-ending resolution, opting for a more authentic depiction of successes and challenges. Perhaps it's due to its basis in real events (our first such movie this year), or maybe it's a reminder that scandals and antagonists aren't always as straightforward as a tabloid headline would suggest.
"America, you know, they want someone to love, and they want someone to hate, and they want it easy."
Review
Fantastic performances from Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding, Sebastian Stan as Jeff Gillooly, and an Academy-award winning performance from Allison Janney as LaVona Harding, Tonya's mother.
Robbie has you wanting to root for Tonya as a quintessential underdog that's being dragged down at every turn: a cycle of physical and mental abuse by her family, a high-brow skating culture that doesn't respect her or take her seriously. She should be a true rags-to-riches story of American success—but then you remember the violently horrific event she was assuredly involved with.
The whole cast of characters is almost too cartoonish to believe (from the bumbling sidekick who thinks he's a secret agent, to the chain-smoking foul-mouthed mother with a bird perched on her shoulder), so including real news/interview footage as the coda during the credits was a great idea.
I'm admittedly a sucker for a mockumentary-style biopic, especially in a dark comedy. It can be a crutch and overused to the point of distraction; but to me it suits this movie perfectly, utilizing unreliable and conflicting narrations from different characters to great effect.
The ice skating scenes are a bit rough (the CGI already looks pretty bad, and not going to age well at all).
That blend of dark humor, captivating portrayal of real events, and standout performances makes 'I, Tonya' a highly recommended movie.