Skip to main content

New Release Birb: I, Tonya

I, Tonya
Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, and Allison Janney
Directed By: Craig Gillespie
US Release Date: December 8th, 2017
My First Viewing: September 16th, 2017
Image Credit: Movieposters.com

 Underneath the surface of the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan story lies the movie I, Tonya. Harding, played by McKenna Grace (child) and Margot Robbie (age 15 and older), is one of many unreliable narrators in this saga of wanting to be perfect at something because that is all you know, and it is a release from her everyday life. 

 Shown in a pseudo-documentary interview style, we see the story of Harding, the abuse she had to deal with, whether it be more mental from her mother (Allison Janney), which turned into psychical once she began dating, and marrying, Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). All three can not be trusted as to whether or not their side of the story is the truth, which makes this film all the more compelling. Even though you think you know how Harding's story ends with Harding being the villain in the conclusion with Kerrigan, you end up wanting to root for her to succeed with all of the trauma she had to endure to get to being a figure skater in the first place. 

 Even though you may know how the story ends, it is interesting nevertheless. Have you seen I, Tonya? Please leave you comments below and as always, please be civil. 

 I, Tonya is rated R for language, violence, and brief nudity. 

 -birb

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Release Birb- A Fantastic Woman

A Fantastic Woman (Una Mujer Fantástica) Starring: Daniela Vega and Francisco Reyes Directed By Sebastián Lelio US Release Date: November 17, 2017 My First Viewing: March 2, 2018 A nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, A Fantastic Woman stars Daniela Vega as Marina, a woman who is dealing with grief and the prejudice of those around her life after the death of her older partner.  This is a beautiful movie that is carried by Vega. She makes this movie so profoundly powerful that you feel with her through her journey, even if this is not something a lot of people can directly relate to. Marina has a difficult enough time in her life dealing with the death of her partner Orlando (Francisco Reyes), but with this being a relationship with a much older man and a trans woman, there are added layers. Between the police, doctors, and Orlando's family, Marina has a lot to deal with, but she is strong and isn't afraid to fight for what she believes ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Random Birb: The Florida Project

The Florida Project Starring: Brooklyn Prince, Willem Dafoe, and Bria Vinaite Directed By: Sean Baker US Release Date: October 6th, 2017 My First Viewing: February 18th, 2018 Image Credit: movieposter.com Within the shadows of the happiest place on Earth, The Florida Project  shows the not-so-glitzy side of Orlando and living near Disney.  The film shows the perspective of kids (led by Brooklyn Prince's Mooney) growing up near the theme park in the grimy pay-by-week motels. Bria Vinaite plays Mooney's mother, someone who will do anything to ensure she can provide for her kid and make sure they keep the roof over their head. As the movie progresses, we see her level of desperation increase, and this becomes just as much her story in the second half as it is Mooney's in the first. Both are breakout stars in the movie, which also gets a great supporting piece in veteran actor Willem Dafoe playing the hotel manager.  Sean Baker (who also wrote the film), giv...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Release Birb: First Reformed

First Reformed Starring: Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried Written and Directed by Paul Schrader US Release Date: May 18th, 2018 My First Viewing: May 30th, 2018 A former military officer turned Reverend deals with the struggles of guilt and despair in his own life as well as the world around us in First Reformed, starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried.  Hawke plays Reverend Toller, who at the beginning of the film starts a one-year journal exercise to write his thoughts in the truest way possible, by putting pen to paper. In his small congregation (which is run by a superchurch run by Cedric "The Entertainer" Kyles) is Mary (Seyfried) and her husband Michael (Philip Ettinger). Mary wants to set Michael up with Reverend Toller because he is depressed about global warming and he wants her to get rid of their unborn child because he doesn't want to bring another life into this world.  This is a very deliberately paced film, but it keeps you invested. Hawke's...
Post a Comment
Read more