Watch I, Tonya
- R
- 2017
- 2 hr 1 min
-
7.5 (223,407)
"I, Tonya" is a 2017 biographical dark comedy directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, and Allison Janney. The film follows the life of Tonya Harding, a former Olympic figure skater, and her involvement in the assault on her rival, Nancy Kerrigan, prior to the 1994 Winter Olympics. The movie is structured around a series of interviews with the main characters, including Tonya herself, her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, and her mother LaVona Golden. Through these interviews, we get a sense of the different perspectives and versions of events leading up to the infamous incident. Margot Robbie delivers a stunning performance as Tonya Harding, capturing both the vulnerability and toughness of the figure skater. She is supported by an outstanding cast, including Sebastian Stan as Jeff and Allison Janney as LaVona, who both bring complexity and depth to their roles. One of the most impressive elements of the film is its tone, blending dark humor and tragedy seamlessly. The screenplay by Steven Rogers plays with the audience's expectations of what a biopic should be, breaking the fourth wall and presenting conflicting accounts of events to challenge our preconceived notions of Tonya Harding and her story. The cinematography by Nicolas Karakatsanis is also noteworthy, with striking close-ups and intense close-quarter shots that give the movie a sense of intimacy and personal perspective. The film's editing is also noteworthy, with a fast-paced approach that keeps the audience engaged and invested throughout the story. Overall, "I, Tonya" is a compelling and complex portrait of a figure skater who was both praised for her athleticism and reviled for her involvement in a scandal that rocked the sporting world. It is a film that challenges us to consider how we tell stories, and the ways in which we judge those who are deemed to have fallen from grace. Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, and Allison Janney all deliver remarkable performances, bringing to life Tonya Harding, Jeff Gillooly, and LaVona Golden in ways that are at times sympathetic, at times horrifying, and always deeply human. In short, "I, Tonya" is a cinematic masterpiece that is not to be missed.