My reaction when this film came out was —why? A biopic about a bad woman who ordered the kneecapping of an Olympic opponent was the last thing we needed in 2018. Most of my friends agreed.
But as a voter in the SAG awards, I felt I should give it a chance since Allison Janney and Margot Robbie’s performances were nominated. I’m glad I did.
The movie does not purport to tell you the absolute truth. There’s a lot of “he said, she said” and it addresses that from the beginning. Sometimes actors break the fourth wall to dispute certain incidents. But what comes through loud and clear is that Tonya was physically and verbally abused, by her mother and her husband, at a level most of us can’t even imagine. The culture of violence she grew up in was horrifying, and although it can’t be used to excuse what she may have done, it explains it.
If you are looking for the film to confirm that she planned the attack, it’s not there. Nor does it vindicate her. You are left to form your own conclusions and the reactions have been mixed. But it is a very good movie with terrific performances by the entire cast. The skating sequences are amazing, even to a non-fan like me.
I came away sad for Tonya. She was a victim her whole life. Many have said that she associated with all the wrong people. That she should have left her mom before she did. Left her husband. (She did. many times, only to frequently return when he pledged his love and how he would change.)
What do we do with these damaged people? She seems relatively happy now, married with an adolescent child. She makes a living painting houses and building decks. The shame is that a talent so exceptional was compromised by such a horrible upbringing.
It’s well worth watching, unless you are unable to handle the violence and coarse language.
