More Than Just A Figure Skating Film

Rating: 6/10 (15 April 2018)

Sports is a huge passion of mine, despite not being an athletic abilities myself I've always been drawn to competition. The Tonya Harding story I knew from a documentary I watched regarding the famous 1994 incident involving Nancy Kerrigan. Figure skating wasn't ever something I enjoyed watching, but every sport has their stories and this is definitely the first thing people think about when they hear "figure skating". This story does recount the incident, but dives much deeper into Tonya's life - some of which may or may not be true.
The film starts off by showing Tonya's love for ice skating at only four-years-old. That is the simplicity of the film; a girl who loves the sport she competes in and overcomes obstacles to obtain her dream. However it takes a turn showing her abusive and toxic relationship with her Mother played by Allison Janney. Her need to be loved comes at a cost when she leaves her Mother only to be put back into another abusive and toxic relationship with her boyfriend - turned future husband - Jeff Gillooly.
I like how the film tows the line - taking an unbiased look into Tonya's life. Writer Steven Rogers is able to show that Tonya had a terrible upbringing and life, but also points out that she wasn't always the lovely person she let on to be. Repeatedly stating that nothing was her fault and taking no responsibility for her actions. Despite all that, this is the classic rags to riches tale that comes with a cost. She mistakes fame for the love she desperately desires. However no one really knows exactly what is true because the film is based on many interviews with everyone involved in a Scorsese-esq biopic - having the characters at times break the fourth wall and claim what did and didn't happen. You do get a good idea on how things went down though, because between everyone's separate recounts, there are some moments where their stories coincide with one another.
Janney plays the textbook, overbearing sports parent that we all know still exist. Pushing their kids to do better by treating them with what they think is "tough love". She shines in this film, stealing every scene she is in; making you despise her. If you remember back when I spoke about Margot Robbie, I said her good looks were getting in her way. Everything she was cast in was the pretty blonde, but you could tell she was just about to break out of that and show everyone the talented actress she can be and she does that in this film. This in my opinion is Robbie's coming out role; showing everyone she is more than a pretty face and can act toe to toe with the best of them.
There were a few things I didn't enjoy, which kind of stood out like a sore thumb; one being the atrocious CGI effects used when Robbie is skating. I understand that clearly isn't her doing those spins on the ice, but did they have to make it so obvious? With today's technology, you'd think it would be able to look more realistic and less green-screeny. The other thing I disliked was the "character" of Shawn; Tonya's bodyguard who conspired in the breaking of Nancy Kerrigan's knee. I put character in quotes because he is based on the real man and unfortunately he comes off too cartoony. Instead of being the dumb person he is meant to be portraying, he comes off like a henchman from a bad '80s superhero movie.
Overall, I enjoyed the film. If you're thinking you don't want to see a movie about figure skating, that is just what the story is presented on; it is much more than that and should be mentioned alongside some of the other great sports biopics. I, Tonya deserves a watch if you enjoy a unique take on a story as old as time.