Powerful, Gripping & Emotional. Like the sport itself.

Rating: 9/10 (26 February 2018)

During the course of our lives, we are guaranteed to share distinctive moments with those close to us. Yet interestingly, we will all remember those events completely differently. I, Tonya explores this abnormality of the human perspective, an abnormality which leaves us to believe our experience is the absolute and only truth. This film explores this idea through the vessel of the infamous figure skater Tonya Harding. A woman's who's sporting career and personal life made global news in the early 90s. Tonya was perhaps involved in one of the most controversial sporting events in the world, the assault of Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. Even now, when the key events of the assault are so well publicised, the details and motivations surrounding the incident are still unclear. Hence why Craig Gillespie's amusingly decides to open the film with disclaimer that this story is "irony free, wildly contradictory and totally true".
Considering the vast array of perspectives on these complex events, one might suspect that such a story would be a challenge to adapt into an onscreen affair. However, Steven Rogers and Craig Gillespie creatively rise to the occasion by using clever framing devices such as the unreliable narrator. They use this in conjunction with a series of authentic interviews to contextualise the overall narrative, but throughout the film they also use the device for comic relief and emotional impact. The film also uses Deadpool esque fourth wall breaks to achieve similar effects. The film in fact uses a variety of stylistic techniques, which on paper seems like a risky choice considering the sensitive nature of the material at play. Margot Robbie certainly seemed conscious of this and she has talked at great length that as a producer on this film, she was determined to bring on board of a director who could simultaneously balance the beauty and horror of Tonya's life. I would say that Robbie made a good choice as Gillespie, for the most part, succeeds in balancing these dichotomous tones.
Gillespie decides to start the story early, as the film opens with Tonya as a young girl (portrayed magnificently by Mckenna Grace) and we see some of the early defining moments that would come to shape her character. The film then documents her adolescent interactions with her abusive mother LaVona Golden (Allison Janney) and the beginnings of her relationship with the infamous Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). The narrative then progresses to focuses on the professional highlights of Tonya's career, (such as her iconic triple axel at the 1991 US Championships), her tumultuous private life and eventually the 'incident' at the 1994 Olympics which forever changed Tonya's life. With such extensive ground to cover, there was a danger of losing focus and under developing certain story elements. Despite these potential trappings, I, Tonya manages to give equal weight to its various narrative arcs which only serves to enhance the audience's connection to this atypical story.
I must confess, before this film was released I had never heard of Tonya Harding. I think it's fair to say that this off the wall story was a bit before my time. I also hadn't heard much buzz in the lead up to its release, which is odd considering the film has received extensive critical appraisal in the US. Thus, it's fair to say that I was rather surprised that this film blew me away.
There's so much to praise about this film, but to me what stands out the most is the phenomenal performances. Firstly, Margot Robbie absolutely excels as the titular character. I knew she was a talented actress based on what I had seen of her in The Wolf of Wall Street and Suicide Squad. I just didn't know she was this good. Shame on me. In I, Toyna Robbie manages to deliver a sweeping yet nuanced performance. One minute her blunt and comical performance has you laughing at loud and the next you're emotionally moved by the horrid nature of some of her character's experiences. She really does bring a lot of charm and personality to one of the most vilified women in modern US history. It's even more impressive when you take into account that this is her first ever performance in a leading role. A performance that has been deservedly been recognised with a best actress nomination.
Though it must be said, Allison Janney absolutely steals the show as Tonya's mother, LaVona Golden. She effortless portrays a woman who thinks she's a fantastic mother who provides for her daughter. Whilst in reality, all she does is instill various complexes and enables a cycle of abuse. Whether Tonya's mother was actually like this is up for discussion, as the portrayal of Tonya's mother in this film was entirely based on descriptions given by Tonya and Jeff. Interestingly, despite the vast discrepancies in their stories and their clear disdain for one another, the one thing they agree on is what LaVona was like. Regardless, Allison Janney is absolutely wonderful, throughout the film she just masterfully oozes toxicity and cruelty whenever she's onscreen. If the academy doesn't give her best supporting actress at this year's Oscars it will be daylight robbery.
Another strong point of this wonderful film is its exploration and portrayal of abuse. It carefully and accurately captures the cycle of abuse, and how one's treatment as a child can affect the relationships and decisions one makes as an adult. Robbie's performance gives us an insight into a woman who was horrifically abused not only by her own mother, but also by her husband. The film allows the audience to comprehend the danger that Tonya was subjected to; dangers that only escalated as she aged and grew in notoriety. So much so that the film calls out the audience, essentially the world, for how it treated her. The world loved Tonya for a fleeting moment, hated her the next and eventually ridiculed her. A cycle she had been accustomed due to years of abuse, a fact the film heartbreakingly conveys. My only criticism would be that at certain points the artistic flourishes of the film do lessen the impact of the emotional intensity and the brutality of Tonya's experience. Yet this is a rare occurrence because of Gillespie's direction and Robbie's performance.
I could honestly write at great length about the various things I love in I, Tonya. Whether it be Sebastian Stan's excellent performance as Jeff Gillooly, the film's imaginative uses of a colourful soundtrack or the genuinely exciting skating sequences which have the intensity of a high-octane action flick. Yet I think what stood out to me the most is that this isn't your average awards season biopic, it hasn't been solely constructed with the purpose of winning awards. The film, despite its artistic flourishes and humorous moments has something important to say. At its heart it's a meaningful mediation on the complexities and difficulties of life, and how these can completely change someone's circumstances. Whether it be something abstract like social class or something brutally tangible such as abuse. I, Tonya leaves us to ponder what could have been if the world wasn't so cruel.
Because of that I, Tonya unapologetically stands out for the crowd of artsy and pretentious award season films. Just like how the woman herself stood out from the inauthentic and fraudulent world of ice skating princesses. For that alone, this film deserves to be championed and celebrated.