Critics Corner – “Tyson”

Film Outlet	Movie Critic	Rating Given	Review Date
	The Rake	3 / 4 nests	4-16
	Peter Travers	3.5 / 4 stars	4-23
	Lisa Schwarzbaum	B-	4-14
	Roger Ebert	4 / 4 stars	4-29
	Critics / Users	B / A-	4-30
	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Rating / T-Meter	7.2 / 88%	4-30

I’ll admit, growing up an athlete and major sports fan, boxer Mike Tyson was a near idol to me at one point in my life. It’s hard to imagine now, looking back on the man who became almost a beast of sorts, inside and outside of the ring, but at the height of Tyson’s fame, he was as popular as Michael Jordan, known the world-over for his devastating knockout power and prowess in the ring. James Toback’s documentary Tyson is an insightful and unmasked portrayal of the fallen boxer as delivered by Iron Mike himself. The documentary it most resembles in style is our recent film-u-missed, Tupac: Resurrection, as it is told in Mike’s words, and the only voice you hear throughout the entire film is his, with the exception of some clips from his earlier boxing life. Tyson might alternatively be called “Tyson on Tyson” or any other derivative thereof.

Tyson opens with flashback footage of a 20 year-old man-child who has just earned his first Heavyweight Championship belt. As the noise from the mania in the ring fades out, the screen reveals a subdued individual, 20 years removed from that crowning moment, tribal tattoo on his face, sitting on his couch while talking frankly and openly about his life. A shell of his former self, this man is a confused individual and he spends the next 90 minutes or so taking you deep into his world, reflecting on what he has done, and in the process revealing his psyche.

This is how some of us choose to remember Iron Mike.

Mike discusses his childhood; his relationship with father figure and manager/trainer, Cus D’Amato (which is the most moving portion of the film early on), as well as his relationship with first wife Robin Givens. He discusses the Desiree Washington rape charge, revealing it as a sham, something I have long agreed with in concept (which ruined what might have been the most anticipated boxing match in modern history at the time, between he and Evander Holyfield in 1991). He discusses promoter Don King, creatively labeling him “a wretched, slimy, reptallion muthafucker.” None of this is earth-shattering, but while Tyson offers little regret or remorse that doesn’t mean there isn’t strong sadness and softness within him.

Visually there is not too much going on so Toback plays with the camera, often utilizing split screen during Tyson’s multiple monologues. Tyson, as those that know anything about him would expect, often contradicts himself. He is a man clearly grappling with inner demons. He talks about his passion for sexual conquest, his love of money and also of family. He waxes lyrically to the camera, often to comic effect, yet never recognizing it as such himself. A man’s soul is bared for all to hear, at least as much of his soul as Tyson is capable of delivering.

Or will we remember him as a man with many demons?

While it’s well done and interesting, real fans of Tyson won’t uncover an abundance of new information here. For you, it is more a trip down memory lane, as told by the former heavyweight champion of the world. In contrast, for those curious for a portrait of a human being who defied the odds and has turned out to be an intriguing and perplexing subject, this comes highly recommended.

Postscript: In a post-screening interview, director Toback, who likely “knows” Tyson as well as anyone at this point, revealed a few things from his perspective, I was hoping to find out from the film itself. I’ll note that this is mainly for fight/Tyson fans. First off, he is no longer in touch with Kevin Rooney, the trainer in D’Amato’s camp who helped make Tyson so successful as a kid. Tyson rarely discusses his boxing days or boxing in general, unless it is to talk of some of the famous fighters of years past, like Jack Johnson or Joe Louis.

Additionally, Toback, with his Harvard background, believes there to be no reason why Tyson would have turned out any different as either a fighter or in life, were Cus to have lived another 5 years say, versus when he died and Tyson was still only 19. Toback interestingly argues that he would have merely been a sheltered 24 year-old, versus the naive 19, and therefore he would have likely succumbed to the same pitfalls that his career ultimately took. This is one point of contention that fight fans worldwide like to make in favor of Tyson; speculating that he could/would have been different if Cus or Rooney were never out of the mix. I would have liked to hear from Tyson directly on this, but he seems to no longer be interested in such matters. But Tyson himself regularly talks of dogging it in preparation for certain opponents, one can only wonder as to whether or not D’Amato’s or Rooney’s influence would have changed that down the road.Tyson doesn’t seem to care or think about it, for whatever that’s worth.

Monday kicks off another week of film news, where it’s always crackin’ it seems.  You want to see the new Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince International Trailer?  You have to head here to check it out since embedding has been disabled by request.  Daniel Radcliffe does not get naked.  Sorry, you sick bastards. I kid.

[Superhero Hype] is talking about the Venom spin-off to Spider-Man film series.  A first draft of the screenplay is in.

Michael Sheen, bka ex-husband of Kate Beckinsale, will now lose that unofficial most well-known title,micah as [Daily Mail] reports that he is “Aro, the head of all vampires” in Twilight-sequel, New Moon.

You want some new Star Trek movie clips?  I thought so.  [Movies Online] has a few for you to see.  Our preview of the film is still getting mad hits too.  Written by a self-proclaimed Trekkie.  Cool.

You interested in the new Tyson documentary on the legendary boxer?  Good, ’cause I will have a review up for the film this week.  “He punches so hard.  He punches like a fucken mule kicks!”  In the meantime, [Hollywood Elsewhere] has a spirited discussion with Director James Toback.  A great conversation, I am told.

Zac Efron gets a pretty big career boost by being cast in the live-action film version of Johnny Quest. [Film Junk]

There is a boat-load of concept art images at [Film-O-Filia] showing tons of crazy stuff from Terminator: Salvation.  The motorcycle in particular is cool-looking.

William Hurt has been cast in Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood movie, though I think that is still an undecided title.  [Dark Horizons]

You loved Hairspray, you really want to know more about Hairspray 2.  [Collider] provides with an update from Adam Shankman.  I now retire for the day since I am sick from typing those last few sentences.

I admit, I grew up loving and idolizing Mike Tyson for a fair amount of time.  It sounds funny to say these days, but the fact is, in the late 80′s and early 90′s, he was a transcendent sports figure.  He was to boxing what Michael Jordan was to basketball, before MJ was what he was to basketball.  He was that big.  He was what Tiger Woods is to golf.  Anyway, Tyson eventually unraveled as most know and became the shell of the fighter and man that he once was.  (Not that he was ever a stand up guy mind you, but still).  There is a new documentary on Tyson’s life, titled Tyson, and after it kicked ass at Cannes, it is now showing at Sundance.  An an interview with MTV, Tyson discusses the difficulty in watching himself on screen, and the “emotional quagmires” that show in the film.  Yeah, he’s a punchline now, but I still remember what he was.  When We Were Kings tackled Ali, but Tyson promises to be very interesting, I think.  Here’s the video.