Review of I, Tonya (2017) by Jens S — 09 Jan 2019

History's most notorious sports scandal is given fresh blood by director Craig Gillespie in this darkly comic and funky biopic of figure skater, Tonya Harding (a brilliant Margot Robbie). As we discover in the film, Tonya was on her way to Olympian success in the mid 90s, only to see her career crumble after she was implicated in an assault on fellow competitor, Nancy Kerrigan. The film is a passion project of lead actress, Margot Robbie, who co-produces and approaches her role as Tonya with equal verve. Robbie is sensational as the poor, redneck outsider in a world of prissy skaters, whose talent is matched only by her penchant for confrontation. The actress manages to combine this "fuck em" attitude with a naivety and succeeds in creating a character that is wonderfully nuanced and developed.

The film is told in a mockumentary-style; like the media storm that covered the so-called "incident", I, Tonya's story is told through a kaleidoscope of conflicting stories from its key characters looking back on the events ("I never did this", Tonya says bluntly to the camera as she chases her ex-husband Jeff (an assured Sebastian Stan) off the lawn with a shotgun). The mockumentary style doesn't tire, easing the film structurally and providing for some comedy. The fourth wall breaks are on occasion a little distracting, but only add to what is a delightfully quirky execution by Gillespie. The jukebox soundtrack is equally fabulous, smartly chosen to keep the narrative moving (the use of Cliff Richard's Devil Woman for Tonya's abusive mother's first entrance is pure theatre).

It is not just the infamous assault that I, Tonya details; much of the film is about Harding's early life and her desperate struggle to make it as a skater, despite being from a poor background and schooled by abuse. Allison Janney is the film's stand-out performer, playing Tonya's chain-smoking mother, LaVona, whose idea of motivation involves hitting her daughter with hairbrushes ("One fucking time", she says nonchalantly, though we are led to believe otherwise). Janney is suitably monstrous, stealing pretty much every scene she walks into. Other performances are lively enough, but it is clearly Robbie and Janney who carry the film.

Breaking up the action are the slickly choreographed skating sequences; shot less like ice capades and more like action sequences, these sections help to break up what is a packed and pacey film. Though pace never lags, the first half zigs zags in a more disjointed (though still fiercely entertaining) first hour. The second half is where the film really finds its feet, well-constructed and riveting.

I, Tonya feels, in reality, like two films. On the one hand, it's a post-modern black comedy, complete with Deadpool-esque fourth wall breaks. On the other hand, however, it's a harrowing look at domestic abuse and a subtle critique of American society. Though it seems clear that the former is Gillespie's primary intention, the film sometimes feels tonally confused. Whatever it does, however, it does very well, with style and punch.

Craig Gillespie has succeeded in crafting a dynamic biopic, boosted by stellar performances from Margot Robbie and Allison Janney. Though it's not always as sharp as a skate blade, I, Tonya is brilliant entertainment.