I cry everytime I see the video of her landing the triple axel.

That's truly who Tonya was. She wasn't the evil villain to America's twisted story of fame, nor was she a redneck, a hillbilly, or a white trash girl with no education. She was that triple axel. She was the buildup to it, and the falling out after it. She was the doubt, the inspiration, and the feeling everyone across the world had when she landed it. After the triple axel, she was everything.

She never wanted to be anything but the best. And who can blame her? She was the image of the American dream, from beginning to end. She was what the people wanted her to…

Director Craig Gillespie has a habit of turning a bad pitch into a good movie. Lars and the Real Girl, a story about a man who falls in love with a life-size doll, sounds awful on paper. So does a remake of Fright Night. And so does a movie about the infamous Tonya Harding.

Even though I'm an Oregonian (Sco Ducks!), I didn't know much about the Tonya Harding case going into the movie. My only information was from my mom, who said that Tonya was a figure skater who personally busted a woman's knees herself, and that she hopes that Tonya will get no money from this "disgusting" movie. Obviously, that's not the truth. But at the same time,…

God, every lead character in this film is so well developed that they’re reprehensible, but given moments where you’re meant to see them in a sympathetic/borderline lovable light. A truly tricky balance for Gillespie to manage, but he nails it. No wonder he’s been hired to direct an origin story for a puppy murderer. I’ve written enough about this movie that I don’t have too many original thoughts to write about it any more, so I’ll just say that the moments where Tonya was told that she wasn’t upholding the vision of wholesome Americana enough to succeed reminded me of what’s going on with Bernie right now. Sorry to get political!!!! Let’s all yell about it in the comments!

Insane…

On my 8th viewing (i know) I think I can finally explain why I love this movie so much.

This movie is an incredible portrait of American celebrity, classism, the media's treatment of women, love, and abuse, centered entirely around a well-known, well-hated figure. It gives you plenty of reasons to sympathize for this figure, but it doesn't try and exonerate her of her terrible personality or tell you she's a good person.

I've heard many takes that the film tries to lionize Tonya, but I think it's extremely critical of her and goes through great lengths to highlight how often she says something supposedly wasn't her fault. She refuses to accept blame for anything. Tonya's talking heads alone paint…

"i was loved. i can't describe how it felt"

the movie about tonya harding's life is turning out to be reflective of tonya herself: either loved or hated. for many reasons, valid on both sides. i've read a lot of negative things about this movie in the past month alone and there's a lot to agree with, from the bad cgi to the overall tone of abuse. the first time i saw it and took it all in, i was shocked by a lot of it, and not in a good way. but after letting it sink in and simmer, i just can't hate this movie. it's one i could hate, maybe should hate, but i don't

the biggest sell…

Third act guts me every single time.

This movie condemns its viewer, not just in that (utterly obvious) final monologue, but in every single joke. Every gag just feels like a bat slamming you over the head, harder each time: "You mother fucker, suffering is entertainment to you!" This is not to say the film isn't funny, it is, but by the end, if you aren't gutted and sobbing I'm going to assume sociopathy on your part. I remember seeing this at the theater and people walking out with smiles on their face including the two men in my nuclear unit... what the fuck is wrong with you? Are you not completely disgusted by yourself? I mean, they gave Allison…