I, Tonya is better than anyone might have expected and I want to bash in the kneecap of anyone and everyone who doesn't like this movie.
I, Tonya tells the story of Tonya Harding. Harding (Margot Robbie) grew up in a lower middle class home with her mother, LaVona (Allison Janney). LaVona pushed Tonya, both literally and figuratively, to become a figure skater. Despite being looked down on due to her socioeconomic status, she climbs her way to the top of the skating world. Due to an abusive relationship with her husband, Jeff (Sebastian Stan), and problems with alcohol, Tonya is quickly overshadowed by Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver). This causes Jeff and his friend, Shawn (Paul Walter Hauser) to devise a plan in which Kerrigan is assaulted and thus unable to compete against Tonya.
Did I mention this is based on a true story?
"Based on" is key here. I, Tonya plays out unlike any other movie. The film uses Harding and the other individuals involved in the scandal as unreliable narrators and does not try to hide that fact. They give their thoughts, opinions, alibis, confessions, and denials. But the film never once tries to say that this is what happened. In fact, any time it begins to veer in that direction, they make sure to course correct by having a different character claim the exact opposite happened. This allows the viewer to decide what they make of everything that is being thrown their way and it does so successfully.
"I, Tonya plays out unlike any other movie."
Margot Robbie shines as Tonya Harding, whose quick fall from grace was televised for an entire nation. Seen as someone that America could look up to, Harding's fall was harder than most. Robbie depicts her struggles in a way that is both honest and respectful. Harding was treated in a way that no human being ever should be. She was physically and emotionally abused by her mother and husband at home. On the rink, she was criticized by judges for the lack of glamour in her outfits. She was even looked down on by fellow skaters for not being as graceful as they were. She had a tough exterior but felt every punch, kick, and name that she was called. Despite this, Harding was the best in the sport. Robbie portrays Harding in a delicate and nuanced way, allowing those who once criticized her to begin empathizing with her.
The supporting cast is just as outstanding as the lead performance they are surrounding. Allison Janney plays Tonya's coldhearted, calculating mother, LaVona. LaVona uses Tonya to fulfill her own dreams and will stop at nothing until she does. Worse yet, she claims that her physical and verbal abuse helped to make Tonya the champion that she became. Sebastian Stan plays Jeff, Tonya's husband and later in life abuser. Stan endears himself to the audience, just as he does to Tonya in between scenes of abuse. This is crucial to his character because it is a character trait of people like him in real life. We get sucked in to his kindness, only to be punched in the gut by his 180 turn.
"The supporting cast is just as outstanding as the lead performance they are surrounding."
Jeff's partner in crime, Shawn, is played hilariously by Paul Walter Hauser. He is a bumbling idiot who is in way over his head. Although it is fun to watch, his character marks a turn in the film that could have been smoother. With the introduction of Shawn comes a big shift in tone about halfway through the film. It begins as a story about a woman being the victim in more than one abusive relationship but being able to overcome them. As we get closer to “the incident,” it turns into a dark comedy about a bunch of people trying to commit a crime but learning that they are way out of their element. It did not completely hinder what I believe to be a very good film, but it was noticeable enough to bother me.
Although this shift in tone is felt, it's not totally out of left field. Despite dealing with serious topics, I, Tonya maintains a sense of lightness to it. The filmmakers know how insane the story is and they do not try to make it anything less than that. The soundtrack places us right back in the moment that the story takes place. With music from Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, and Violent Femmes, we are transported right back to the mid-90s. Not only does it help establish the setting but it works wonders for the pacing of the film. Utilizing the energy of these "greatest hits," I, Tonya remains a kinetic movie right to the very end.
"The filmmakers know how insane the story is and they do not try to make it anything less than that."
This kind of pacing is much needed in a film like this. Although I was not alive when the incident took place, most people watching the movie were. It is recent history and still fresh in the public's mind. Like the OJ Simpson trial that took place later in the same year, the Tonya Harding incident marked a turn in news reporting. There was around the clock coverage and the people involved became household names. With such familiarity to the story and people, a dramatic depiction, even 25 years later, may feel like oversaturation. I, Tonya avoids this feeling by telling the story in an entirely new way. It is not just about Tonya Harding. It is not trying to reveal any truth. It's about the public and how we react to sensationalized news.
In fact, I would argue that I, Tonya is not interested in revealing the “truth” of this story at all. Instead, we are asked to look in the mirror and to recognize the way that we, as Americans, glorify tabloid headlines and villainize those involved without any bit of empathy for the humans behind them. We cheer for people when they are on top and we cheer against them when they are knocked down. I, Tonya and, more importantly, Margot Robbie humanize Harding, who has spent years getting knocked down by the press and by the public, and challenges us to be better.
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