★★★★½
Starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Paul Walter Hauser, Bobby Cannavale, Mckenna Grace
Directed by Craig Gillespie
2017 / 120 Minutes /30West / Neon / VVS Films
Who would have thought a movie about Tonya Harding could be so damn interesting, funny and sad. I’Tonya is the true story of the intensely competitive ice skater and her life from childhood to today.
Margot Robbie is incredible as Harding. This is a career defining Oscar caliber performance from her. She’s never been better. She becomes Harding so much that when you see real footage of the real Tonya during the end credits you’ll think she’s the imposter and Robbie is the real one. It’s one of the best performances of the year hands down.
Also giving an equally incredible performance is Allison Janney as Tonya’s crazy abusive mother. Her character is over the top and almost unbelievable. That is until you see the footage of the real woman at the end and realize this is not for show and Janney nailed this performance.
I’Tonya is shot like a documentary or more of a mockumentary and it works perfectly adding so much more to this crazy real life cast of characters. As funny and crazy as this story is it’s also quite sad. After seeing this I have much more respect and feeling for Harding. I only saw what the press was giving us about her, I never realized her true talent and the full story behind this. The press went wild with this story and Harding really got the harsh brunt of it. There are some real heartbreaking moments that really make you see her for more than what the news showed us. With that said – all these people were batshit crazy.
I loved how the story was told through the documentary style, it didn’t slam you with it, but was enough for you to really understand and get to know this cast of cooky characters. This was the best and most interesting way to tell this story. We all have a view and opinion already about these people before the movie, but I promise after you will rethink everything you ever thought about Harding and what happened. Some may think Nancy Kerrigan isn’t shown in a very good light here (what little light she is in), but it’s not her story she’s just a blip in Harding’s life yet the two will forever be connected. I think it’s the perfect telling of this ridiculous story.
I’ Tonya is one of the best films of 2017! I never expected a movie about Tonya Harding to be this great, hell I never expected a theatrical film to be made about this, but here we have it. A truly exceptional brilliant little film.
Grade A-
