"I, Tonya" Movie Review
Lead actress in “I, Tonya” Margot Robbie has played a variety of lead female roles that have a couple key characteristics in common. All of her characters are non-conforming and tend to be seen negatively by the general public within the films; however, to viewers, her characters are extremely charming and likeble. The Australian-born actress is best known in the United States for her roles in “Suicide Squad,” “Wolf of Wall Street” and “Focus.” She has played a fictional villain, a criminal’s second wife, a con artist and now an Olympic figure skater. It may be easy to see how all of her characters prior to “I, Tonya” relate to her signature characterizations; however her role as Olympic figure skater, Tonya Harding, is actually no different.
The film follows the life of American figure skater Tonya Harding and aims to ultimately shed light on the attack of her rival Nancy Kerrigan. In a mock documentary style, the film features interviews of Margot Robbie playing Tonya Harding, Sebastian Stan playing Tonya’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, and Allison Janney playing Tonya’s mother LaVona Fay Golden. The entire film is based on real-life interviews with these people and it depicts real-life events that they explained.
“I, Tonya” was released in the United States on December 8, 2017, and received many positive reviews. At the 90th Academy Awards, the film received three nominations: Best Actress for Margot Robbie, Best Supporting Actress for Allison Janney and Best Editing. At the 75th Golden Globes, Allison Janney won for Best Supporting Actress and the film also received nominations for Best Motion Picture and Best Actress for Margot Robbie. The film also won awards and received nominations at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards and the 71st British Academy Film Awards.
If the awards won by “I, Tonya” alone hasn’t convinced you to see it, I can say that it is a must, especially since the 2018 Winter Olympics are currently going on. Along with learning about the life of Tonya Harding, you will receive insight into how hard Olympians must train and their struggles as well as learn about a real-life case of abusive and how it has affected the life of someone who had the potential to win the Olympics.
Plot
Tonya Harding was born in 1970 in Portland, Oregon where she lived throughout the course of the film and her life. As a toddler, she had a natural ability to ice skate and at the age of four, her abusive mother, LaVona Golden introduced Tonya to coach Diane Rawlinson who began training her to figure skate. As Tonya grows up, her mother makes her a high school drop out by taking her out of school so she can exclusively focus on figure skating. As a teenager, Tonya trains extensively with Diane and quickly becomes one of the best figure skaters in America. Despite her hard work and talent, Tonya is held back by a “white trash” reputation as she is headstrong, performs to the music she likes and creates her own outfits since she comes from a low-income family.
At age 15, Tonya meets 18-year-old Jeff Gillooly while training at the ice rink and the two begin dating. Not long after, the relationship becomes physically and mentally abusive, and despite disapproval from her mother, Tonya marries Jeff for a couple different reasons. At the time they married, the two were living together and she says he wasn’t abusing her, even though he had in the past. Not having any skills besides skating and needing to train in order to be successful, Tonya initially moves in and marries Jeff to escape her mother as well as be financially stable enough to put in countless hours at the skating rink. She blames her mother for the mindset that she deserves to be beaten and believes she does her best under the stress her life brings.
During the height of her career, Tonya becomes the first female figure skater to complete two triple axel jumps in competition and after a dispute with lifelong coach Diane, Tonya fires her and hires Dody Teachman to coach her for the 1992 Winter Olympics. With Dody as her coach and recently separated from Jeff; Tonya doesn’t skate her best in the Olympics and comes in fourth place. Defeated, Tonya moves back in with Jeff and works as a waitress for a short period of time. While on the job, she is visited by former coach, Diane Rawlinson and is convinced to train again for the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Unfortunately for Tonya, this is where it begins to go downhill. While training, she receives a death threat, which she and Jeff believe has something to do with opponent and former friend, Nancy Kerrigan. Seeking revenge, Jeff forms a plan with friend Shawn Eckhardt, to send death threats to Nancy. However, seeking to “further” his self-appointed career as Tonya’s “bodyguard,” Shawn hires two men to attack Nancy. As a result, her knee is injured and the hit men are arrested. Shawn’s bragging leads to a quick arrest by the FBI and he then attempts to blame Jeff, who apparently had no idea the attack was going to occur. While all of this was going down, Tonya qualifies for the Olympics again and fearing that she won’t be able to compete, she goes to the FBI. Tonya tells them everything and afterward, they show Jeff her testimony as he is still attempting to maintain his innocence. In response, he tries to attack Tonya; however, she escapes, leaves him for good, and he incriminates her by telling the FBI she knew about the attack all along.
Tonya is able to compete at the Olympics, comes in eighth and Nancy wins the silver medal. Tonya’s trial occurs when she returns home after the Olympics and is able to avoid jail time. However, she is charged with withholding information and is banned from competitive figure skating for life, which she compares to a life sentence. When all is said and done, Jeff acknowledges that he ruined his former wife’s career and changes his name.
Throughout the scandal, Tonya is heavily reported on and is seen negatively by the public, which ruins her reputation. Today, Tonya is remarried, is a mother and works in landscaping. Although mostly forgotten about, a whole new generation is learning about the scandal, but through a different lens. With the 2018 Winter Olympics currently occurring, it’s neat to learn about this story. While this film is entertaining and allows Tonya Harding to share her side of the story, this film also sheds light on abuse and can teach people about the consequences and to look out for warning signs.