"I, Tonya," "Molly's Game," and the Idea of the Modern Olympic Movie

Scene from I, Tonya

*Note: Spoilers for I, Tonya and Molly's Game

If a sports movie is supposed to be a triumphant vision of the self, then an Olympics movie should be something grader; like the combination of athletes competing for the gold medal in an Avengers-esque story. After all, it is a journey on the world stage where many countries have risen to the challenge and the country is sometimes more important than the individual. It's the type of logic that has fueled Olympic movies like Best Picture winner Chariots of Fire before, depicting the strength of a country in time of need. With the Pyeonchang Olympics set to begin this weekend, it seems like a chance to see triumph on film. So why then are the films currently available (and Oscar-nominated) a bit more of a down note? While there have been upbeat stories in recent years (Eddie the Eagle, Race), there's a sense that an Olympic movie in 2018 isn't about the competition, but a metaphor for self-identity. The films I, Tonya and Molly's Game depict this struggle in different ways - often with Olympics being the last thing on their mind - but come clear on one point. The Olympics are a game of personality politics, and these two films capture it in the news media age.

Review: "I, Tonya" is a Pulpy, Fun Sports Movie

Margot Robbie

Thanks to films like Rocky, the idea of the sports movie has come to represent a certain type of underdog; someone who exceeds against an oppressive society. Even if that's the case, few people were as primed against this structure quite like Tonya Harding - now infamous for an incident regarding Nancy Kerrigan. She has become the butt of countless jokes since, ruining her reputation as an excellent figure skater. With that in mind, director Craig Gillespie has decided to explore the truth behind the tragedy in the comedy I, Tonya. It's a film that manages to explore her background and her struggles to be taken seriously. In that way, it's a typical sports movie. However, it's more vulgar than your Million Dollar Babies. It's a unique journey that is as off-putting as it is fascinating.

The "I, Tonya" Captures a Notorious Moment in Olympics History with Cattiness

Scene from I, Tonya

The presence of sports figures in everyday life are inevitable. There are a few that stand out as being excellent at their craft, turning it into a physical art form. However, there are those few who are remembered for the opposite reasons. Journeyman director Craig Gillespie has made a movie called I, Tonya, which chronicles the infamous career of Tonya Harding and the one event that made her a staple in Olympics history. The first teaser shows just how trashy and petty a movie about Harding should be. It doesn't give much, but it does have a ferocity that captures a potential Best Actress nominee in Margot Robbie. If nothing else, she sure looks the part.