Name of film – I, Tonya (2017)
Lizard film – 031
Chosen by – Jones
Date – May 2019
Director – Craig Gillespie
Starring – Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale
Duration – 119 mins
Genre – Biographic, Drama, Sport, Comedy
Summary –
Based on the unbelievable but true events, I, Tonya is a darkly comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Featuring an iconic turn by Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding I, Tonya is an absurd, irreverent, and piercing portrayal of Harding’s life and career in all of its unchecked––and checkered––glory.
MASHITER’S SCORE & REVIEW
ACTING – 9
DIRECTING – 10
SCORE/AUDIO – 10
CINEMATOGRAPHY – 8
ENTERTAINMENT – 9
TOTAL – 46/50 = 92% *****
So what better way to cheer one’s self up after watching ‘Come & See’ than with an award winning comedy starring one of the hottest women on the planet? Only, the world’s hottest woman had had everything done cosmetically to ensure she certainly was in no way even luke-warm. From Wolf of Wall-Street to this-quite unbelievable how it’s possible! So let’s hope for some entertainment and laughs.
Well straight away, Julianne Nicholson, playing Tonya’s Mum, started to steal the show with her cursing in public. Using the ‘c’ word at somebody who’d asked her not to swear in front of kids was a good start. I started to quite enjoy this from early in the film. You see, comedies just aren’t my thing. I can name 5 I find funny-possibly less. But I’ve never classed dark comedies in this genre as usually they are a different film-sometimes horror, sometimes gangster. A lot of Scorcese’s films have dark comedy elements to them and I could draw many parallels between this film and Goodfellas. Slowed down silent scenes with a 60’s hit playing; scenes where the actress comes out of character to talk directly to the camera and the narration throughout the film. I’ve never seen a film made so closely to it. But boy did it work well.
The scenes with Tonya ice skating were brilliantly done. What a buzz to see the fantastic camera work on offer during her first skate. And the special effects during the sequences were outstanding – you almost believed it was her. Every single scene in the film shone brightly and had an important place in the scheme of things.
It left you with a question I always ask myself. If she was the number one figure skater in the world after the second routine and notorious triple jump, would life ever hit such highs again and can life ever be the same? Do the lows that follow balance out the highs but last longer…Is it all worth it if this is the case? Something I’ve often asked myself when footballers retire.
The build up to Albertville was excellent. The viewer had a great feel for the character – damaged yet driven – and a good behind the scenes peek at the life of a figure skater. And when 4th place meant returning to being a waitress it was time for the build up to the olympics-not before what could potentially have been the film’s best scene. The showdown with Mum and the questions we’ve been wanting to ask the ruthless woman. She actually got off lightly, unfortunately.
The score was excellent and fit perfectly with the tone of the scenes. Some pretty good tunes! Highlights were the superb ‘Gloria’ and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. The orchestral score was also impressive. But when Iggy Pop’s ‘The Passenger’ came on at the end my score leapt from 8 to 9 – when I realised it was Siouxsie and the Banshees covering it – it went to 10. Absolutely spot on for my tastes.
I thought the acting was outstanding. What a long way Margot Robbie has come since her early days in soap opera ‘Neighbours’. I was absolutely in awe of this performance. Playing a hard faced, hard hearted but ruthlessly driven young star but who effortlessly exposes to the audience all of her weaknesses and frailties. The scene in court at the end after everything had been taken away from her was breathtakingly well done. But if this was a monster performance, what about the performance of the monster – her Mother. One of the great villains in modern day cinema! Even sinking as low as to record her daughter’s admissions for the press after telling her daughter for the first time in her life she was proud-something had to be wrong there!
The ending to the ending of the story was magnificent. ‘Everybody wants someone to love but they also want someone to hate.’ You just can’t help feeling wretched for her and the hand she’s been dealt. Playing the actual Tonya’s skating performance and revealing the actual characters at the end was a master-stroke. Without realising it, the film gave itself a well deserved pat on the back for how close to actual characterisation it had brilliantly pitched itself.
Now I want to read the book, watch the film again, find clips on YouTube. It has had a real effect on me, revealing a story I didn’t know existed. It’s a lesson in life to surround yourself with good people who won’t harm the progress you make. Without the influences she had no control over, and those that she did, I think she might very well have made it… a
DREYER’S SCORE & REVIEW
ACTING – 9
DIRECTING – 8.5
SCORE/AUDIO – 9
CINEMATOGRAPHY – 8
ENTERTAINMENT – 8.5
TOTAL – 43/50 = 86% ****
Liked it loads, but didn’t love it. Acting was very good (especially her mum), though plot didn’t require actors to go through full reportoire of emotions. Cracking audio. Directing was very slick, but a little bit too brisk at times, which gave the early part of the film a stacarto feel to it instead of more of a rhythm. Her mum looked like Bev the morning after a night on the lash!
ACTING 90%
DIRECTING 92.5%
SCORE/AUDIO 95%
CINEMATOGRAPHY 80%
ENTERTAINMENT 87.5%
TOTAL SCORE 89%
(MM – 92% RD – 86%)
**** 4 STAR LIZARDMAN RATING ****
Lizardman Film Club 