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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

I, Tonya
Starring: Margot Robbie, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, and Sebastian Stan
Synopsis: Anyone of a certain age remembers a few things when they hear the name Tonya Harding. I was only 12 at the time when Nancy Kerrigan was attacked in the days leading up to the Winter Olympics. But I remember the news footage and that Harding was involved and became something of a pariah. What I didn't remember, was that Harding, at one point, was a skating superstar. That's one of many interesting things in "I, Tonya," a sort of biopic based on interviews with Harding and her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly. The thing is, they remember the events of that time quite differently. And "I, Tonya" tries to account for that, too. Director Craig Gillespie, working off a script from Steven Rogers that was based on interviews, tries to balance those disparate accounts. The result is a film that includes present-day interviews and flashbacks to events where the people frequently break the fourth wall. It's a humorous take, and one that's really designed to look at Harding, her life, her career, and that infamous incident, warts and all. The film is uneven at times, humorous at times, and engrossing at times. And while we might all remember the clash between Harding and Kerrigan, the film isn't really interested in telling Kerrigan's story at all. She barely appears. This is about Harding (Robbie), her mother (Janney) and her relationship with Gillooly (Stan). And the film is really blessed by some great performances. Robbie and Janney have been frequent nominees, and Janney won the Golden Globe, and for good reason. They are excellent and really elevate the material and the format. Stan also does a great job and is asked to carry a fairly thankless role. In the end, I enjoyed "I, Tonya," and I thought it told the story from an interesting perspective. I appreciated the performances and the dark humor, and there was some truly remarkable filmmaking from Gillespie. But I didn't appreciate all the aspects of the format and, to me, it was a good movie, but not a great one.
Rating: R for pervasive language, violence, and some sexual content/nudity.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

The Post
Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Tracey Letts, Carrie Coon, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, and Matthew Rhys
Synopsis: When I was younger, I remember seeing the Ron Howard movie "The Paper." While probably not considered a classic, there was something about the story of journalists and the dogged pursuit of truth that inspired me and made me want to be a journalist. Even though I no longer work day-to-day in that profession, when I see those stories, I still feel that same pull and inspiration. Steven Spielberg's latest film, "The Post," is that kind of film. Set in 1971, it traces the tense days where editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), publisher Katherine Graham (Streep) and a team of dedicated reporters sought to get to the truth of what the government knew about Vietnam, and sought to find the courage to publish despite great pressure from the Nixon administration. At the time, The Washington Post was a smaller regional paper trying to compete and in the midst of going public on the Stock Exchange. And Graham was new to her position, and fighting for respect during a time when women weren't typically regarded as worthy of such positions. "The Post" is a film that chronicles all of that, and the bravery of a group of reporters and editors who wanted to get to the truth, despite the potential consequences. In that sense, "The Post" is one of the most timely films of the year. The beauty of our democratic system of government is the checks and balances that help keep the good of the people at the forefront. A part of those checks and balances is a free press, often referred to as the Fourth Estate. That's also something this film explores in a profound and moving way. It also tells an account of history that many aren't familiar with. It explores a lot of themes of the time and has some beautiful performances, starting with Hanks and Streep, two of the best of all time. Streep, in particular, does some wonderful things with Graham and brings her story to life in a fascinating way. I was also taken with Odenkirk, who is a star on the small screen in "Better Call Saul," and holds his own opposite some big screen legends, carrying a big portion of the narrative in this film. This is one of the best films of the year, and I expect it to be a player when the Academy Award nominations are announced on Tuesday. And given our current political climate, it's a part of our history that we should all be considering and reflecting on moving forward.
Rating: PG-13 for language and brief war violence.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, January 18 — "Den of Thieves," "12 Strong," "Forever My Girl," "Hostiles"
Friday, January 26 — "Maze Runner: The Death Cure"