Film Festival 09 - Tyson
Tyson
USA 2008, 88m
Director: James Toback
Festivals: Cannes (Un Certain Regard) 2008; Sundance, San Francisco
2009
Mike Tyson's early record was extraordinary. At 20 in 1985, he was
heavyweight champion of the world, a feared, worshipped, highly
profitable icon of pugilistic brutality and speed. His fall from
the throne was spectacular. A rape conviction in 1992 saw him serve
three years in prison. On release his vicious comeback match with
Evander Holyfield cemented his disgrace. Utilising fight clips,
archival news and blazingly frank new interviews with Tyson
himself, director James Toback throws new light on his successes
and excesses and his current bid to find something resembling inner
peace. - Bill Gosden.
"Tyson is a documentary& but it is a heart song, too, as
Tyson talks about a life of near constant abuse and humiliation.
And as he talks, so his innate violence becomes clearer. Tyson is
not an apology or an apologia, but a piercing insight into how our
society creates its villains and then despises them for behaving
badly. Whatever you think of Mike Tyson now, we guarantee your mind
will be changed." - David Thomson, San Francisco Film
Festival
www.tyson-film.com
