时间:2019-01-03 作者:英语课 分类:2017年VOA慢速英语(十二)月


英语课

‘I, Tonya’ Reexamines One of America's Biggest Sports Scandals


Not long ago, Steven Rogers was watching a film documentary about Tonya Harding, an American figure skater in the 1990s.


As he watched the film, Rogers thought about social class, abuse, mass media and the meaning of truth -- all parts of Harding’s complex story.


In early 1994, shortly before the Winter Olympics, Harding and other top figure skaters had gathered in Detroit, Michigan, for the United States championships. The placements there would decide who would join the U.S. Olympic team.


One of those skaters was Nancy Kerrigan. Many people thought she had a good chance at winning the Olympic gold medal. But while Kerrigan was preparing for championships, a man attacked her. He hit her knee with a heavy club.


Harding’s former husband and two men he knew were charged with planning and carrying out the attack. Harding has always denied being involved in the assault.


The American media began reporting on the incident. The Kerrigan versus 1 Harding battle following the attack became one of the biggest sports scandals in U.S. history. And the media quickly painted Kerrigan as an American princess, and Harding as “trash.”


Finding Tonya


Steven Rogers decided 2 he wanted to know more about Harding. He looked to see if the rights to her life story were available to writers and filmmakers. They were. He then called the telephone number for her agent listed on her website. The listed phone number connected him to a motel.


“I thought: I am so in,” Rogers said.


And with little more than the start of an idea, Rogers contacted both Harding and her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. He used their wildly different descriptions of what happened in 1994, and their lives leading up to it, to develop a screenplay. The play would turn into the new movie, “I, Tonya.”


The film was released on December 8 in a limited number of theaters in Los Angeles and New York. It will be released more widely in January.


The film reexamines the famous incident. There is domestic violence, from both Harding’s mother and ex-husband, conflicting stories and no real resolution or answers.


In the movie, Australian actress Margot Robbie plays Harding from ages 15 to 44. She also is the film’s producer. Robbie asked many potential directors how they would deal with the violence that would be included in the film.


Craig Gillespie, the man who got the job, said it had to be shown in a very direct way.


“It didn’t sit right with me, the idea of covering it up and making it seem not that bad,” Robbie said. “Also to leave it out completely felt wrong. But Craig always finds the truth in the situation.”


Robbie and Gillespie decided to try something unusual by having Harding speak directly to the camera, even as she is being beaten.


Becoming Tonya


Robbie trained and studied the real Harding for six months. She examined her figure skating movements, as well as her physicality and the way she talks.


Robbie did not meet Harding herself until after filming for the movie had ended.


“I had already decided how I was going to play this character,” Robbie said. “I knew every single beat and how I would play it.”


One person who is largely missing from the film is Nancy Kerrigan. That was done on purpose. Robbie says she did not want the film to become another “Tonya vs. Nancy” story.


“Since this was about Tonya Harding, the most important people and relationships in her life were with her mother and with Jeff. Those are the relationships that really shape her as a person.”


Allison Janney plays Harding’s mother, LaVona. She is the person who put Harding on the ice, paid for her training, and made her skating costumes with the little money she had. She also abused her daughter as a child, both with words and physical violence.


Tonya Harding has reportedly not spoken to her mother in 15 years.


Janney watched video recordings 3 of LaVona to study her movements. She described playing the part as freeing, and the relationship between the two women as “harsh and hard and complicated.”


Actor Sebastian Stan plays Gillooly, Harding’s former husband.


“I was so intrigued 5 by the story. I was slightly obsessed,” Stan said. “When you’re going to play someone you have to put all judgments 7 aside.”


“I, Tonya” is a timely look at a woman who had everything against her. Yet she was able to become one of the world’s best in one of the most costly 8 sports -- although she did not look, act or sound like her competitors.


On Monday, the movie earned three Golden Globe nominations 9. Many observers expect Robbie and others involved in “I, Tonya” to earn Oscar nominations next year.


But beyond the critics, Tonya Harding mostly likes the film, too, Rogers says.


“It is going to be interesting to see if this movie changes anything for her. Film is a powerful medium,” Rogers said.


I'm Caty Weaver 10.


And I'm Bryan Lynn.


Words in This Story


versus - preposition. used to indicate the two people, teams, etc., that are fighting or competing against each other or that are opposed to each other ?


scandal - n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong


princess - n. a usually attractive girl or woman who is treated with special attention and kindness


trash- n. ?someone who has very low social status or who is not respected?


motel- n. ?a place that is next to a road and that has rooms for people to stay in especially when they are traveling by car?


domestic violence- n. ?violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse 11 or partner.?


potential - ?adj. capable of becoming real?


intrigue 4 - ?v. ? to make (someone) want to know more about something : to cause (someone) to become interested


obsess 6 - v. ?to think and talk about someone or something too much



prep.以…为对手,对;与…相比之下
  • The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
  • The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
n.记录( recording的名词复数 );录音;录像;唱片
  • a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
  • old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐
vt.激起兴趣,迷住;vi.耍阴谋;n.阴谋,密谋
  • Court officials will intrigue against the royal family.法院官员将密谋反对皇室。
  • The royal palace was filled with intrigue.皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。
adj.好奇的,被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式);激起…的兴趣或好奇心;“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词
  • You've really intrigued me—tell me more! 你说的真有意思—再给我讲一些吧!
  • He was intrigued by her story. 他被她的故事迷住了。
vt.使着迷,使心神不定,(恶魔)困扰
  • I must admit that maps obsess me.我得承认我对地图十分着迷。
  • A string of scandals is obsessing America.美国正被一系列丑闻所困扰。
判断( judgment的名词复数 ); 鉴定; 评价; 审判
  • A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
  • He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
n.提名,任命( nomination的名词复数 )
  • Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句
n.织布工;编织者
  • She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快,而且布的质量很好。
  • The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。
n.配偶(指夫或妻)
  • Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
  • What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么?
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