Review of I, Tonya (2017) by Msb R — 27 Feb 2018

Rating: A-.

I, Tonya is one of the best movies based on real-life events that I've seen recently. Being a genre that I usually don't feel amazed by, Craig Gillespie tells a very well-written story by Steven Rogers. Very interesting and captivating screenplay, I was invested throughout most of the runtime and I think the pacing is extremely well-balanced, something that is a common issue in this kind of films. Gillespie also makes a great decision by telling the story through different perspectives since the interviews with the real Tonya and Jeff are highly contradictory (as the movie states right at the beginning of the movie).

The cast's performances definitely elevate the film. Margot Robbie (Tonya Harding) might not win the Oscar this year, but her display proves that she has her hands on one in the future. However, Allison Janney (LaVona Golden) portrays Tonya's mother flawlessly (even if the character might have been stretched, as well as some aspects of the real story) and she is my frontrunner to get the Best Supporting Actress award. Great performance from Sebastian Stan (Jeff Gillooly) as well.

Great cinematography, excellent editing and beautiful use of the CGI for the skating scenes. Tonally, the movie could have been better controlled and it feels that both the story and its characters are certainly exaggerated and distant from (some) truths. The entertainment levels are high, even though the film sometimes feels too long.