Written by: Steven Rogers
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Bobby Cannavale
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A look at the life and doomed career of ice skater Tonya Harding and her connection to one of the most infamous sports scandals in American history, the assault on rival Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Verdict
It's a self aware movie that breaks the fourth wall just to remind us how ridiculous this true story is. This is always entertaining full of big characters like Tonya, her mom, and self proclaimed international spy Shawn. Tonya is the anchor to the story and it's easy to like her, from her rough upbringing to the desire of revolutionizing figure skating. It really gives her the benefit of the doubt on the assault, though it doesn't completely absolve her.
Watch it.
Review
Tonya was a talented skater and her mom pushed he way too hard. Tonya's mom is a handful, the type of pushy, self centered person that could make the Pope curse. Her mom went out of her way to push and antagonize her. Did this contribute to Harding's do anything to win mentality? That is, assuming she was involved.Tonya had a rough time, going from her mom to her boyfriend Jeff who was physically abusive.
Tonya was a different type of skater, looked down upon from the skating establishment as white trash while trying to upend the posh sport with ZZ Top instead of classical music. You sympathize for her. She's facing an uphill battle, trying to chase her passion while doing it her way. She's been groomed to do it her by her mom who never failed to subvert a rule. I wondered how innocent this was going to portray her. Her background isn't an excuse, but it is a contributor. There are a lot of "It's not my fault." claims from tonya throughout the movie. We hear that before a montage of partying and lack of practice.
Tonya's likable, and if she weren't there wouldn't be much in this film. It gives us just enough to doubt.
The characters break the fourth wall a few times, the best sequence when her trainer looks at the camera and states the Rocky-esque montage we're watching actually happened. I've seen montages like that and it comes off as trite. When we're told it actually happened, it takes the montage to a new level. She put in the work.
The fourth wall breaking with documentary style inserts is a bit like The Big Short, though not as excessive or condescending.
The movie portrays the assault as a mix up orchestrated by her boyfriend and his incredibly dumb friend Shawn. Threatening letters turned into an assault. Shawn maintains he's an international spy despite living in his mom's basement. He ends up getting them caught because he can't stop bragging about the assault to everyone he meets. It's such an absurd story that I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't true.
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