Director: Craig Gillepsie
Starring: Margot Robbie, Allison Janney and Sebastian Stan
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actresses have built a legacy that’s as strong as Allison Janney. Ever since her rise to stardom in the 1980’s, Janney has become a beloved icon in the film industry. Whether it’s frustrated mothers, depressed writers or comic figures, the actress has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably, Janey’s best strength as an actress is her commitment toward her craft. She is one of those rare actresses that always pours her heart and soul into every single role. Janey has never been afraid of taking risks in her career by playing characters which aren’t always likeable. Through her abilities to create characters which are compelling, Janney has built a legacy that’s lasting. Shining bright light in darkness, Janney has become a celebrated icon in entertainment business. An actress that has always shown a strong commitment to her craft, Janney has become a celebrated icon in entertainment. Throughout an enduring career, Janney has created many great movies which are definitely without any single doubts worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Janney and adore the films she has starred in throughout career. However, “I Tonya” is my favourite. Since its release in 2017, Craig Gillespie’s movie has stood a test of time as a classic. With the greatest film of his career, Gillespie honoured the legacy of a beloved ice skater in American history. Packed with phenomenal production-design, engaging storytelling and strong acting, it’s one of the best sports movies ever made. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance by Allison Janney, portraying a controlling mother which is determined for her daughter to become an ice-skater. Ultimately, what makes “I, Tonya” a masterpiece is its timeless appeal. Unlike most movies about ice skating, it tackles compelling themes which would resonate with everyone. A breathtaking masterpiece about ice skating, there are several strong reasons why “I Tonya” is a movie which is definitely without a single doubt worth seeing.
“I, Tonya” tells a true story of an ice skater with charisma that became a champion in America. Margot Robbie portrays Tonya Harding, a bold ice-skater that seeks success in a competitive industry. Tonya has always had a lifelong love for ice-skating since she was a child. Assisted by her strict mother LaVona (Allison Janney), Tonya embarks upon a journey to become an iconic ice skater in America. Initially, Tonya is able to achieve success in a competitive sport that she loves dearly. However, Tonya’s dream to become a famous ice skater is threatened by an injury putting her life in danger. Facing a dilemma, Tonya questions whether it’s possible for her to transform into a famous ice skater in America. Wondering whether she has what it takes to become an athlete which is inspiring. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Tonya questions whether she can ever become a famous ice-skater.
Craig Gillespie is a newcomer towards stories of ice-skaters. Before he directed “I, Tonya”, Gillespie had never made a movie about ice skaters before. It was the director’s first ever attempt to capture barriers experienced by a real-life renowned ice-skater but he pulled it off effectively. Through bold cinematography, Gillespie captures a woman’s with love for ice-skating seeking popularity. Gillespie effectively uses handheld camera to capture an athlete sharing a tense relationship with her mother. For instance, handheld camera elevates the big argument scene. During this memorable scene, Tonya has a tense argument with her mother leading to a knife injury. One admires shaky camerawork capturing the tension that ice-skaters are facing. Handheld camerawork is a tricky technique to employ in movies. As Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon” demonstrated, handheld camera elevates period pieces about drug addiction. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Gillespie captures grim hardships that an ice-skater is facing.
Another admirable aspect of “I, Tonya” which merits appreciation is the production-design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well-made. Gillespie’s decision to use real-life skating in the movie is risky but pays off tremendously. Unlike most movies in which skating is fake, Gillespie had the actors learn how to skate for real. For instance, the real-life skating elevates the Triple Axel scene. During this memorable scene, Tonya engages in a victorious ice skating game performing a triple axel that’s inspiring. Real-life skating is a tricky technique to use in films. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this film. Furthermore, the musical score is marvellous. Peter Nashel’s music gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the painful burden which ice skaters bear. Through phenomenal production-design, Gillespie captures the hardship experienced by world-famous figure skaters whose lives face a decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “I, Tonya” is a classic that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses fourth wall breaks to capture the lives of tense ice-skaters. Throughout the film, Gillipse uses fourth wall breaking interviews to capture the tensions Tonya is facing. The characters talk directly to the camera in a unique technique that gives insights into the character of Tonya. For instance, the fourth wall breaks enhance the abuse scene. During this heartfelt scene, Tonya recounts her traumatic memories of having a tense fight with Jeff leading to their divorce. One appreciates fourth wall breaks capturing the tension that figure skaters are facing. Breaking the fourth wall is a complex technique that isn’t always easy to use in films. As Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” suggested, breaking the fourth wall elevates biographies about Wall Street stockbrokers. As Harry Bradbeer’s “Enola Holmes” suggested, fourth wall breaks enhance Sherlock Holmes adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through engrossing storytelling, Gillespie captures hardships faced by women that love ice-skating.
One appreciates amazing performances
Margot Robbie delivers one of her best career performances as Tonya Harding. Robbie first achieved appreciation for playing the wives of Wall Street bankers. With “I, Tonya”, however, she took on her most challenging role. It isn’t simple to embody the personality of a strong ice skater which changed history but Robbie succeeded tremendously. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charming and emotional in her most complex role. With “I, Tonya”, Robbie showcases flair for ice-skating which she hadn’t shown before in her career. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures the angst, determination and passion of an ice-skater that transformed the course of history. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated actresses working today.
Allison Janney is astonishing as a strict mother that trains her daughter to become a powerful ice-skater. Janney has always excelled playing compelling women in positions of power, and “I Tonya” showcased her strength as an actress. Whether she is insulting her daughter that she hates ice-skating or throwing temper tantrums at her husband, Janney uses her commanding voice to create a character that’s compelling. Although LaVona is an unlikeable character with a cruel personality, Janney makes her an intriguing person with humanity. It’s a terrific performance from one of the most committed actresses working in the modern film industry today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also meriting recognition. Sebastian Stan is superb, bringing determination to an abusive husband that mistreats his wife affecting her abilities to succeed in a competition. Paul Walter Hauser js powerful, capturing the reckless personality of a criminal whose clumsy decisions lead to a skater’s downfall. Last, Julianne Nicholson is phenomenal. As an ice skating coach, she brings wisdom to the movie.
Finally, “I, Tonya” would earn appreciation of everyone for capturing a legendary ice skater in America. Unlike most movies about skating, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. It discusses bold themes such as marriage, career and trauma which would resonate with everyone. It delivers a meaningful message on identity which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with skating to appreciate the movie. Therefore, “I, Tonya” is one of those rare skating movies everyone would adore.
Fans of Allison Janney would appreciate “I, Tonya” and so will movie-goers that seek exhilarating entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece about an ice-skater, it honours an actress that’s iconic.
Nearly 30 years after Tonya Harding overcame a challenging childhood involving abusive parenting by a controlling mother to become an ice-skater that’s awe-inspiring, it’s a riveting reminder of an actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for her abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling in unforgettable movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 