TYSON: The Documentary, NYC Premiere & Impressions

Had the great fortune to get in to the new Mike Tyson documentary, directed by James Toback, simply titled Tyson. It’s an amazing piece, solely narrated with a softened perspective by Tyson himself. Formally so volatile, it’s incredible to hear him calmly explain his perspective about moments that must be difficult for him to watch, moments of pure rage, moments of sure embarrassment, moments of loss. But there are many victorious moments as well, moments where he perks up, acknowledging the champion’s past: Tyson the absolute destroyer, the pummeler. It’s a fantastic doc, revealing a man who basically had no formative teen years, a street youth likely kept alive by the structure of being inside of the ring by day and watching films of boxing’s greats at night, at father-figure Cus D’Amato’s upstate mansion.

If you’re like me, and were mystified and fascinated by Tyson’s fiery arc through the 80s and 90s, a wild mix of knock-outs and courtroom dramas, but had little knowledge of the ingredients that came together to create it, you’ll probably enjoy this documentary. The need that the modern-day Iron Mike, retired, scarred, and Māori-inked, desperately (but without desperation) feels to open up, to explain, to connect to people, is captured by Toback in a series of interviews that essentially form Tyson’s commentary track to his own life.

The film has it all. There’s humor, slander, good boxing, bad boxing, elation, tears from Tyson, but also moments of raw rage from his past: the uncensored press conference post-prison rant that nearly stops all autonomic functions when you hear it. The Holyfield ear-biting incidents, the seething Tyson prowling the ring after the fight, during the moments the judges are disqualifying him, while the 2008 voice of Tyson tries to bring sense to it all in his edgy recollection, gives the effect of a riot about to explode. There are also some silly parts, like when the man-child tries to express his fondness of the opposite sex, but it all works somehow, exposing a complex man still maturing to this day.

Tyson himself was there after the screening, and when an audience member asked how he felt about seeing the complete film, he stammered for a moment, before explaining that if he watches it objectively, if he watches it like any other person there, he sometimes sees a man that he’d be scared to be in the same room with.

Must-see if you were ever intrigued by this man.

This was the photo I got as he left… I know, weak, but it was either get a good photo, or shake Tyson’s hand - I went for the hand-shake, and grabbed this photo. You woulda done the same, you know it.