If you’re at all familiar with the sport of figure skating, you’ve heard the name Tonya Harding.
She’s the closest thing you’ll find to the sport’s super villain, having been blamed for the attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan prior to the 1994 Winter Olympics and eventually given a lifetime ban from competitive skating.
It’s been more than 20 years since that fateful day in Detroit, and Harding and her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, have been on the wrong end of many jokes along the way.
Since most of the world has been captivated with the Olympic games over the last week and a half, which continue through the end of the week, we thought this would be a great time to watch I, Tonya, the comedic movie of Harding’s early life, rise to stardom and subsequent fall from grace.
Now this movie goer was only 13 when the incident heard round the skating world took place, but living in New England, just a state over from Kerrigan, you had to live under a rock to not know all the intricacies of the story.
And I, Tonya brings the story to a whole new level – a hilarious one, at that.
We must warn you that there are a lot of instances of domestic violence (which are in no way funny), foul language and smoking – lots of smoking– but it’s the story of her life, and those things are necessary elements for a true portrayal of Harding.
The story of Harding’s skating career began at 3 years old, when the youngster was obsessed with the sport of skating. Her mother, LaVona Fay Golden, who was portrayed by Allison Janey as not the most caring mother in the world – to say the least – takes her to a local rink for lessons.
Soon Harding is beating girls twice her age and is on a path to stardom.
But there are bumps in the road. Her mother is abusive, mostly emotionally and mentally, but also physically. Her parents divorce and her father takes off and she’s looked down upon because of her family’s financial status. To have the fur coat she needs to fit in with the other skaters, she and her father take to the woods to find some fur (if you catch our drift).
But her talent was undeniable – she was the first American woman to land a triple axel – no matter what others thought about her rough personality and appearance.
As a teenager, she meets a guy who shows some interest, Gillooly. Their relationship is up and down – like the biggest rollercoaster in the world – and it all leads up to that fateful day six weeks before the Olympic games in Lillehammer, Norway. You didn’t think we were going to give you all the juicy details, now did you?
The film was done based on recent interviews with both Harding and Gillooly, and old ones given by Harding’s bodyguard/ Gillooly’s friend, Shawn Eckardt.
It’s a fascinating story that has been characterized many different ways over the two-plus decades since.
Like we said before, this movie is quite funny and is very entertaining.
Margot Robbie is fantastic as Harding, so it’s no wonder that she’s been nominated for an Oscar for best actress.
Janney is also up for an Oscar for best supporting actress, fresh off awards in the same category at the Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globes. Sebastian Stan was quite impressive as Gillooly as well.
The switch between the film chronicling the story, as well as interviews with the major players in it (done by the actors) and at times the third wall being broken down, makes this a film you want to check out.
If you like figure skating, controversy or have been so enthralled with the Olympics that you’ll watch anything that is loosely tied to it, then this is for you.
And if you already have an opinion about the story and Harding, this may bring some new information to light for you – but you’ll have to see it to know what we’re talking about.
I, Tonya will be playing at Red River Theatres (where we saw it) at least through Thursday. It might be longer, but the movie listings for this weekend came out after our deadline.
But for now, showtimes are 2:05 and 5:25 p.m. through Thursday, and you can check out the website, redrivertheatres.org, for the most up-to-date info.
