I, Tonya (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)

I, Tonya is a 2017 movie that is a blend of drama and dark comedy that is a mockumentary-style biography of former Olympic figure skater, Tonya Harding's (played by Margot Robbie as well as McKenna Grace and Maizie Smith playing her as a child) career. The focus of the movie is the events that surrounded the lead-up to the 1994 Winter Olympics in which Harding's main competition, Nancy Kerrigan (played by Caitlin Carver) was attacked in a plan that was hatched by her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly (played by Sebastian Stan), and executed by his friend, Shawn Eckhart (played by Paul Walter Hauser). Allison Janney plays (wonderfully) Harding's mother, and pretty much steals every scene she is in. While the events of 1993-1994 were the main focus of the movie, the movie is semi-biographical and details Harding's life from the time she was a kid up to the point at which she retired from skating, and the movie does jump around in time a bit as the story is told. For those who get the blu-ray, the A/V quality is good, about what you would expect of a non-special-effects-laden or CGI-heavy movie. For extras, there is a commentary track on the movie by the director, almost 20 minutes of deleted scenes, trailers, and 15 minutes of behind-the-scenes material that features clips of the real people involved being interviewed intertwined with cast and crew interviews. What was included was good, but you definitely do not get a ton of bonus features. The movie is very good and captures the craziness of Harding's life and the absurdity of the attack on Kerrigan perfectly. Janney, Robbie, and Stan are all great with Janney basically owning the movie any time she is on screen. Even if you were not around for the real-life events the movie is based on, it is still a very entertaining movie that is worth watching, but it is definitely better if you know some of the backstory.

This is one of the better films I've seen this year. The numerous awards (and nominations) are richly deserved. I don't think I have ever seen a clearer depiction of what "being from the wrong side of the tracks" means, both personally and professionally. I realize Hollywood has added some of its own interpretation but if ice skater Tonya Harding describes herself as "trailer trash," what can I say? (The judges say she isn't a "wholesome American.") The quasi-documentary style adopted by director Craig Gillespie ("The Finest Hours") works perfectly to convey the people behind the headlines when Nancy Kerrigan was kneecapped before she could compete against Tonya Harding. Based on Steven Rogers' ("Love the Coopers") script, we see what a demeaning, humiliating, life our would-be champion had to endure. Part of Gillespie's cast: * Margot Robbie ("Suicide Squad") Tonya has the mother from hell, soon replaced by a husband who knocks her around and then claims that she made him do it. We were lucky when this Aussie decided to seek her fortune in Hollywood. * Alison Janney ("Mom") LaVona Golden is demanding, insulting and foul-mouthed; this chain-smoking harpy never has a kind word of support or affection for her hard-working daughter. This is the role of a lifetime for award-winning actress Janney. * Sebastian Stan ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier") Jeff Gillooly is a study in frustration. His self-imposed limitations serve only to justify his misbehavior and poor choices. (Gillooly has since changed his name.) * Paul Walker Hauser ("Superstore") Shawn is Tonya's gluttonous bodyguard. The only thing bigger than his torso is his ego. * Julianne Nicholson ("Law & Order") Diane Rawlinson is the coach every girl should have, she is soft spoken, kind, and supportive. * Bobby Cannavele ("Will & Grace") Martin Maddox is the Hard Copy reporter who tells it exactly as it is. His description of the perpetrators is perfect. * Mckenna Grace ("Gifted") Young Tonya begs her father to take her with him when he leaves her mother. That wrenching scene is a heart breaker. Even though I was familiar with the headlines, I discovered I was a bit fuzzy on Harding's life both before and after "The Incident." They do us a favor and show her amazing triple axel in slow motion. She was the first female skater to successfully perform this demanding routine in competition. The R rating is richly deserved because our resident rednecks (from a suburb outside of Portland, Oregon) lob F-bombs at each other without hesitation. They are violent and abusive, both verbally and physically. I found myself embracing The Mamas and the Papas' "Dream a Little Dream" simply for the change of pace. Be sure to watch through the closing credits because they show us the real Tonya Harding in action! She is amazing!

Whoever wrote the blurb got it right: "Based on the unbelievable but true events, I, Tonya is a darkly comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan." Nailed it. No more to be said about that. Margot Robbie's portrayal of Tonya Harding is off-the-charts stunning. I mean her performance as an actress and athlete. Never mind that she is among the most beautiful women ever born. Her beauty is there--can't hide it, really--but it's just not part of the performance. (Digression: If you want to see Robbie at her appealing best, watch "The Legend of Tarzan." If you're not in love with Jane Porter by the time that film ends, better check your pulse to make sure you're not dead.) ((Trigression: If you want to view the film that's most faithful to Edgar Rice Burroughs's original "Tarzan of the Apes" novel, watch "Greystoke" with Christopher Lambert. It's still the unparalleled masterpiece among ERB films.)) The less appealing aspects of this film are its reliance on the shock effect of f-bombs, grossly exaggerated character assasination, and frequent ventures into overt political hate-mongering. It could have been so much better without those brainless popular media ploys. These things are incongruous in relation to the quality of the main body of the work. The rest of it is so well done that it leaves me wondering if they were forced to include the crap to buy their way into the theaters.

Liked it. I had a vague recollection of this story so it was interesting to see these versions. Liked the comic elements to lighten a dark life story. Great acting all round.

Entretenida, buena película biográfica que narra la vida, el auge y caída de la patinadora artística Tonya Harding.

Une performance tout simplement époustouflante de Margot Robbie pour une histoire hors du commun, présenté sous la forme d'une sorte de docu fiction concept où toute cette histoire incroyable prends forme sous le récit d'une vie chaotique dédiée au patinage et parsemée de personnanges hauts en couleurs ainsi que de coups du sorts. Lorsque le destin s'acharne... Dans le genre biopic on n'a pas vu aussi bien depuis longtemps ! Un bluray à la qualité technique parfaite, avec cinq scènes coupées dont certaines auraient méritées de figurer dans le cut final ! Un excellent moment de cinéma, doublé d'une bande originale 80's raccort qui sert le film de façon magistrale, que je conseille pour ma part sans réserves.

This, movie was worth every dollar! Tonya's life is very interesting, but sad. Crazy to see what built up to the main event. Margot Robbie was amazing!

Il dvd è bellissimo, ben fatto ..il film è meraviglioso. E' la storia della vittoria di una donna contro il proprio dolore, una bambina che subisce maltrattamenti nell'infanzia che crescendo diventa una donna vittima di un uomo violento e che finisce coinvolta in una storia nella quale pagherà il prezzo più alto ( oltre alla vittima ovviamente). Tocca il fondo..e si riscatta. Recitazione superba di tutti, l'attrice che interpreta la madre ha vinto l'Oscar..Margot Robbie secondo me l'avrebbe meritato.