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I, Tonya (2017)

2017 • 2h • Drama, Comedy • R
On September 25, 2026
#1104▼ 438
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jessetaylor on I, Tonya

7/10 · Sep 15, 2017

I didn’t know what to anticipate when I started watching, since very little information was available about it beyond the actors involved—and naturally, the story itself, given how much attention it received in the nineties—but it ended up being a surprisingly enjoyable, though imperfect, biographical film. The movie adopted a style and tone reminiscent of the Coen brothers' work, but also evoked some of Christopher Guest’s sensibilities with its interview-style sequences and Paul Thomas Anderson’s approach to music. It incorporated several cinematic techniques, yet ultimately it’s an easygoing film that should appeal to audiences. However, there are two significant issues I have with the movie. The soundtrack, despite being full of well-known songs, frequently felt misplaced or completely superfluous. Considering this is a story about the nineties, limiting the music selection to the seventies seemed like an odd decision. Many of the songs were played at peculiar times and sometimes they were too obvious. For instance, Supertramp’s "Goodbye Stranger" plays when Jeff and Tonya go their separate ways for the first time. Another problem is the film's use of moments that break the fourth wall; these occur roughly ten times throughout, but they didn't contribute anything meaningful and actually pulled me out of the narrative whenever they occurred. Despite this, what’s really good about the movie is just how genuinely funny it is. I anticipated a few laughs given the absurdity of the story, but the comedy here was quite clever. It resembles a crime-gone-wrong Fargo-style story in its later portion and that approach works very well. The acting is strong, particularly from Allison Janney (who completely steals every scene she’s in) and Margot Robbie. I haven't seen Robbie deliver a performance like this before, and I would say this represents her first substantial role where she can fully utilize her acting abilities. She’s humorous, endearing, bold, and it's clear that she invested herself deeply in the character. I was very impressed.

Source on TMDB