‘I, Tonya’ gives insight into former figure skater’s backstory of abuse

If you already caught “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and need to satiate an appetite for Oscar nominees, the next best choice is director Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya.”

Though it’s currently playing at Riverside Cinemas, “I, Tonya” actually came out in 2017, generating critical buzz and just edging in to qualify for the upcoming Academy Awards.

“I, Tonya” chronicles the life of former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding, from her volatile childhood to even more volatile personal and professional life years later as a superstar athlete. A victim of years of abuse from both her mother and now ex-husband, the film follows her relentlessness (and faults) in her quest to prove she was one of the greatest figure skaters of all time.

Margot Robbie definitely earns her Oscar nomination here, and it wouldn’t be any kind of upset if she won it. Her portrayal of Harding as an abused, unfiltered, coarse train wreck with her own dreams and determination is both fascinating and inspiring given the odds against her.

From Harding’s poor upbringing with her abusive mother (Best Supporting Actress nominee Allison Janney), to her scumbag husband Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan), to judges who outright refuse to give her fair scores because of her homemade costumes, the film explores what made her story so much of an underdog tale.

Parts of the film are narrated in interview form by the future selves of each major character. Some contradict the statements of others, and some events are made outright questionable. Characters (mostly Harding) break the fourth wall by speaking to the audience to add their own comments or to contradict the film’s point of view. This adds a bit of intrigue and sometimes an amusing touch to the story, adding a feeling of myth surrounding this shady cast of characters; but it never lessens or exploits the hurt Harding experienced at the hands of those closest to her. The abuse she underwent is presented as very real.

And for those old enough to remember, the story isn’t a happy one for her. The “incident,” as the movie refers to it, is the catalyst for Harding’s eventual downfall. While the incredible amount of stupidity behind the baton-to-the-knee hit job on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan is so pathetic that it’s almost laughable (except of course for Kerrigan), it’s interesting to see the movie track responsibility for the incident that almost crippled Harding’s competitor. Whatever one’s individual assessment of the scandal, the movie portrays Harding as oblivious to what her husband and his lackeys did to Kerrigan; she is never portrayed as a villain in this matter.

If there’s anything to take away from “I, Tonya,” it’s how real of a person Harding is. Even if only 20 percent of the film is truth, it’s enough to make viewers both fascinated by and sympathetic of the troubled skater’s life story.

The portrayal of Harding’s rough upbringing and skating career chronicles the sordid details surrounding the most common trait of professional athletes: dedication and love for their sport. For every fault, poor decision or vicious outburst, her skill and devotion to figure skating is portrayed as unquestionable, and perhaps her only solace from a harsh life off the ice.

Whether or not to catch the movie in theaters is mostly up to you. “I, Tonya” doesn’t have to be seen on the big screen, though the experience does contribute to her larger-than-life tale. But if you decide to skip seeing it at Riverside Cinemas, it doesn’t make this very entertaining film any less of a must-see.

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“I, Tonya” is currently playing at the Riverside Cinemas, 1017 S. Boone St. in Aberdeen.

George Haerle holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing for media and lives in Cosmopolis.