Darkly comic, sadly tragic and brilliant all round.
Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.
The 2nd to last of the Oscar films to be screened for media is excellent and Alison Janney’s nomination for Best Supporting Actress now seems perfectly justified. In fact, I’m happy to predict she’ll win. The film, based on two vastly different accounts of the same event breaks the fourth wall throughout to add humour and also to highlight the differences of varying accounts - this works brilliantly. Margot Robbie is excellent as Tonya, as is Sebastian Stan. The soundtrack is also noticeably good. The script is strong and surprisingly the humorous tone does work with the material. Playing a real person is always tough, but Robbie manages to “act” as opposed to “imitate,” which so many performers do in films like this.
Overall the most unique take on a “true events” film I’ve seen and certainly a unique way of highlighting a cycle of abuse.
4.5 Stars
Review by Benjamin Maio Mackay
Screening courtesy of Roadshow Entertainment