The Comedic Trials And Tribulations Of Tonya Harding In The Movie I, Tonya

I’ve never been a huge fan of figure skating.

Not that I don’t appreciate what the athletes do. I can certainly respect the difficulty and strength it takes to be a competitive figure skater. It’s just never been a sport that keeps my attention.

So when I heard I, Tonya was being made, about former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding, I wasn’t completely sold on whether or not this would be a film that I would be interested in watching.

After doing some research I saw that the film was based on interviews conducted with Harding and her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly. The two tell their versions of how the infamous Nancy Kerrigan attack played out. They also discuss the years leading up to and following the attack.

Due to their conflicting stories of how everything played out, the film was written as a comedy/ mockumentary and covers both sides of what the two said actually happened.

When I came across this information I decided that this could be a film worth watching. It had the potential to be something completely different from any other sports film I had ever seen before. I’m happy to confirm that my instincts on this film were right.

Directed by Craig Gillespie, I, Tonya captures several of Harding’s hardships and triumphs throughout her young adult life, leading up to and following the 1994 Winter Olympic games in Lillehammer, Norway.

Throughout the film, we see the constant struggle that Tonya endures.  Whether she was having a steak knife thrown at her by her mother Lavona Harding, or fighting off her ex-husbands’ constant physical attacks, Tonya refused to break and remained resilient.

The film stars Margot Robbie as Tonya (nominated for an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role) alongside Allison Janney who plays Lavona (Winner of the Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role) and Sebastian Stan, who plays Gillooly.

I was surprised to originally hear that the film was written as a comedy, but after watching the film and re-watching some of the actual interviews I saw that it was the perfect choice for a story like this. I could never have taken a guy like Shawn Eckardt seriously. It may sound insensitive due to the fact that Eckardt passed away at the age of 40 in 2007, but he was clueless (as were his two associates Shane Stant and Derrick Smith) and the film definitely shows it.

Whether he is self-proclaiming himself as a counter-terrorism expert or bragging in public shortly following the Kerrigan attack, Eckardt proves that he is no expert (this could possibly have to do with why he was still living at home with his mother).

After doing some further fact-checking I did see a few moments in the film that were made up.

1. Tonya never stormed the ice to confront skating judges that would ultimately lead to her telling one of them to “suck her dick.” Though the real Tonya did say after viewing the film that she wishes she had said it.

2. Tonya does claim that her mother tried to get a recorded confession out of her, but it did not take place at her home as seen in the film. Tonya claims it took place at an ice rink.

3. Tonya never actually pleaded with the judge in court about giving her jail time rather than a lifetime ban from figure skating. The plea deal was already in place, and Tonya agreed to it because her lawyers told her that it was the best option for her.

It’s important to know that the goal of this film was never to prove Tonya’s innocence or guilt. It simply stood as a platform for her and Gillooly to tell their versions of what actually took place.

Despite the fact that Robbie did not win an Academy Award for her portrayal of Tonya, I do believe that this is her best work yet.

As fore-mentioned, the courtroom scene where Tonya pleads with the judge to let her skate again is not factual, but it may be one of the most powerful scenes in the film. It had me on the edge of my seat begging alongside Tonya to give her another chance, and yes it may leave you in tears.

Let’s also not forget about the preparation leading up to the film; Robbie trained for five months learning how to skate, and actually does do a lot of the skating in the film, but no guys! She didn’t actually complete the triple axel. The triple axel is such a dangerous jump that stunt doubles and actual figure skaters  could not even be talked into attempting the jump. A special effects crew had to be brought in to create the infamous jump along with a lot of the other more difficult jumps.

In the end, I’m left with the feeling that Tonya may have overheard bits and pieces of the plan. However, I don’t believe she was “involved” with planning the attack. I guess none of us will ever know for sure what actually happened, but I do respect the decision by writer Steven Rogers to give both parties the chance to tell their stories. I also respect the courage Of Tonya. Allowing that door of her life to be re-opened and explored, could not have been easy.

Whether you’re into comedy or drama I, Tonya will satisfy all of your cinematic taste buds. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be at the edge of your seat, and most importantly you will feel sympathy.