Tyson

Over the weekend there was a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. There was so much left hanging in the air from the Pacquiao versus Hatton fight that I had to go see the Tyson movie! James Toback, who is more famous for his most recent cinematic endeavors such as Black and White, Two Guys and a Girl and The Pick-up Artist, paired up with Mike Tyson for a one on one interview exploring every aspect of Tyson’s life and hopefully explanations.

As the movie began; I could not help but to love the split screens jumping across my eyes of Tyson-young, sharp and ready to fight and the present day Tyson on his couch answering questions. So much of what the public did not know about Tyson is revealed in the first couple of scenes; he grew up Brownsville, Brooklyn and by the time he was 13 years old, he had been arrested 38 times. At the Tryon School for Boys, Tyson found that good behavior would grant him small boxing sessions with a former boxer turned juvenile detention center counselor. Cus D’Amato, boxing manager and trainer took Tyson out of the school and eventually became Tyson’s guardian.

The film focuses only on Tyson’s voice and his thoughts, which vary from esoteric to down right terrifyingly violent. Tyson is still one of the most controversial international boxing star. His rise to fame was as exciting and tumultuous as his fall. There are different dynamics between fighting in the ring and the streets and Tyson has been unfortunate in some of his public battles but the internal battle is captivating.