Tyson

Tyson In his younger days, the former heavyweight champ liked to say, 'No one really knows Mike Tyson.'

Director James Toback, who befriended him while making 1999's Black and White, allows Tyson to speak for himself as he illustrates his words through archival footage and fight clips, culminating in a subjective portrait that begins in empathy before ending somewhere more enigmatic.

The filmmaker captures his now-retired subject in a reflective mood, and Tyson comes across as considerably more humble and eloquent than his reputation suggests — he describes boxing impresario Don King as 'wretched, reptilian, and slimy' and has a special fondness for the word 'skullduggery' — but continues to battle loneliness and feelings of abandonment, even fighting back a few tears at times.

Tyson may disappoint those looking for the trash-talking pugilist of old, but Toback proves there's more to Iron Mike than meets the eye.

16 No persons under 16 (Language)
90 minutes

Credits

CastMike Tyson, Trevor Berbick, William Cayton
DirectorJames Toback
Formats DVD
SA DistributorNu Metro


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