Terribly sad biopic of Tonya Harding, the Olympic ice skater whose career was ruined by her ex-husband’s alleged involvement in the 1994 assault on her rival Nancy Kerrigan.
It’s a tragic tale of abuse, from childhood onwards, via a brutal, unloving mother (played by Allison Janney) and a violent husband (played by Sebastian Stan). The film is also a damning critique of the media, which turned her into a “punchline”, while being part of that media.
Margot Robbie is terrific in the lead role as the talented skater who just wanted to be loved.
The feel is a lot like American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street: fast edits, a loud rock soundtrack and fourth-wall talking to camera.
It's disturbing and gripping – a powerful drama that's excellently made – but, as always with these kinds of biopics, I’m left wondering if it might have been better to make a documentary film instead.
