'I, Tonya' (2017)

I, Tonya, directed by Craig Gillespie and winner of an Academy Award, focuses on the life and times of skater Tonya Harding (born, 1970; as an adult, played by Margot Robbie in the movie, with her mother played by Allison Janney), including her inescapable links to fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. 

Тоня против всех ("Tonya Against All"), as fashioned in Russian.

Music bolsters the I, Tonya story, which is set mostly in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Most importantly, the Siouxise & the Banshees version of Iggy Pop's classic sing-along tune "The Passenger" accompanies archival footage of the real Harding and crew at the end of the movie. Impressive!

I, Tonya shares a spiritual kinship with Gus Van Sant's 1995 film To Die For, which stars Nicole Kidman, abetted by Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Illeana Douglas and Casey Affleck, among others. Male sidekicks are absurd buffoons in both movies; music adds significant flavor to both (Donovan's "Season of the Witch" takes the cake in To Die For); and both proceed with a jaunty tone that's both satirical and sometimes touching. Put that on ice. Cult classics.

Today's Rune: Breakthrough.