I, Tonya

I, Tonya
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCraig Gillespie
Written bySteven Rogers
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyNicolas Karakatsanis
Edited byTatiana S. Riegel
Music byPeter Nashel
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 8, 2017 (2017-09-08) (TIFF)
  • December 8, 2017 (2017-12-08) (United States)
Running time
120 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$11 million[3]
Box office$53.9 million[4]

I, Tonya is a 2017 American biographical sports mockumentary black comedy film directed by Craig Gillespie from a screenplay by Steven Rogers. It follows the life and career of American figure skater Tonya Harding and her connection to the 1994 assault on her rival Nancy Kerrigan. The film states it is based on "contradictory" and "totally true" interviews with Harding and her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, suggesting they are unreliable narrators. This means the viewer must decide for themselves whether to see the film as the truth or as a version concocted by Harding herself.[5] It features darkly comedic interviews with the characters in mockumentary style, set in the modern day, and breaks the fourth wall. Margot Robbie (who also produced) stars as Harding, Sebastian Stan as Gillooly, and Allison Janney as Harding's mother LaVona Golden. Julianne Nicholson, Caitlin Carver, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bobby Cannavale also star.

Loosely based on actual events, the film depicts Harding as a victim, reframing the narrative around her implication in the aftermath of the crime and other criticism of her actions.[6][7] I, Tonya premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, and was released theatrically in the United States on December 8, 2017. It grossed $53 million worldwide on an $11 million budget, and received highly positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised the performances of Robbie, Stan, and Janney.

At the 90th Academy Awards, Janney won for Best Supporting Actress, while the film also earned nominations for Best Actress for Robbie and Best Film Editing.[8] It earned three nominations at the 75th Golden Globe Awards, winning Best Supporting Actress for Janney, who also won at the Screen Actors Guild and Critics' Choice Movie Awards. Robbie herself was nominated for Best Actress at both shows.[9] At the 71st British Academy Film Awards, the film earned five nominations, winning Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Janney.[10]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Distributor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "I, TONYA (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 30, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Ford, Rebecca (December 1, 2017). "How Margot Robbie Nailed Her Landing for 'I, Tonya'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  4. ^ "I, Tonya (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  5. ^ Olsen, Mark (September 9, 2017). "'I, Tonya' blends humour and pathos at TIFF premiere with Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  6. ^ Brennan, Christine (December 20, 2017). "Tonya Harding movie wants your sympathy, but let's not forget the facts". USA Today. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Vader, J.E. (January 27, 2018). "'I, Nauseated': The Oregonian's ex-sports columnist nails what the Tonya Harding movie gets wrong". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  8. ^ 2018|Oscars.org
  9. ^ "SAG Award Nominations: The Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  10. ^ "The Shape of Water leads Bafta nominations". BBC News. January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.