Movies

‘I, Tonya’ Teaser: Your First Look at Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding

What is the real truth when it comes to the story of Tonya Harding?
By  · Published on October 19th, 2017

What is the real truth when it comes to the story of Tonya Harding?

Neon has released the first teaser for I, Tonya.  The film details the life story of Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) and how the events in her life really happened. Everyone knows about the incident, but do they know about everything that was going on behind the scenes? The footage starts with Harding smoking a cigarette before a big event and putting it out with her ice skate. That should give you an idea of the tone I, Tonya is trying to create.

I, Tonya works as a hard-edged satire of Harding’s real life. At times it is played like a real documentary with interviews with Harding’s mother (Allison Janey in an Oscar-caliber performance) and Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). Then it shows the trauma Tonya Harding had to endure with mental and physical abuse, as well as, the figure skating community deciding she was trash. I, Tonya is fascinating, over-the-top, hilarious, and depressing all at once and was one of the highlights of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Yes, the film also spends a great deal of time on the incident. You know the one where Tonya Harding was blamed for taking out rival figure skater Nancy Kerrigan’s leg? I, Tonya goes in great detail showcasing the events of that episode and how when it was all done Tonya Harding paid the ultimate price.

Margot Robbie really goes for it all in the film and showcases what might be her best performance to date. She spent significant time on the ice to really prepare for the performance. What is interesting about the film is that it offers a perspective to figure skating that audiences rarely see with the camera right with the athlete. Director Craig Gillespie really did a great job of capturing Harding’s life and figure skating on the whole.

Audiences will be able to make their own decision about Tonya Harding when I, Tonya opens December 8th.

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News Writer/Columnist for Film School Rejects. It’s the Pictures Co-host. Bylines Playboy, ZAM, Paste Magazine and more.