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Mike Tyson

Traces the rise and fall of former Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.

Flixster Users

77% liked it

4,286 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

123 critics

R, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: James Toback

Release Date: April 24, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (691)

  • rezpatriot
    October 26, 2009
    rezpatriot
    A very good biography by Tyson himself.
  • mrpopcorn
    October 15, 2009
    mrpopcorn
    "A boy comes to me with a spark of interest, I feed that spark and in becomes a flame, I feed the flame and it becomes a fire, I fed the fire and it becomes a roaring blaze."

    A mixture of original interviews and archival footage and photographs sheds light on the life exp...( read more)eriences of Mike Tyson.

    REVIEW

    What most people remember about Mike Tyson is that while he was a ferocious and dominant fighter in his prime, his character is a different story. He was imprisoned for rape, made obscene comments about his opponents, committed one of the most infamous incidents in all of boxing by biting his opponent's ear, and later became a drug addict facing numerous financial problems.

    Which is unfortunate, however, as James Toback's documentary "Tyson" attempts, quite successfully, to dispel the notion of Tyson the savage and show us Tyson the person. He does this by letting Tyson do all the talking, reminiscent of how Errol Morris let Robert McNamara tell his POV in "The Fog of War." And what Tyson tells us about himself adds up to what is probably the most honest documentary you'll see this year. It doesn't even seem like a documentary, conventionally speaking; it's more like a confession, a visual memoir that lends insight into why he acted irrationally many times in his life. You'll get insight as to how he became a boxer, about his legendary trainer and father figure Cus D'amato (In a moving scene, Tyson literally chokes up when recalling D'amato), what he was thinking while preparing for fights, and even his views on women, aided with some very revealing pictures. Of course, like Morris's film, this is all Tyson's story: You will not hear from Robin Givens, Don King, or anyone else. Watching this documentary, however, you come to trust Tyson; and how he bares his soul to the camera is, in some ways, more courageous than facing a formidable opponent in the ring. You feel that not only is Mike Tyson the most honest fighter, but he's also one of the most honest people on this earth.

    Toback's documentary manages to be engrossing because he humanizes Tyson, revealing a lesser seen side of the former champion, which is why even non-boxing fans will find this character study fascinating -- it transcends the savagery of the sport and allows us to understand this complicated, contradictory figure. There may be more relevant documentaries out there these days, but it's doubtful they are as honest and revealing as this one.
  • franktowers
    August 22, 2009
    franktowers
    good play by play of what happened in his life
  • her69eyes
    June 15, 2009
    her69eyes
    It's so rare that you see a documentary in which the director never gets in the way of the subject. James Toback simply lets his camera roll and allows "Iron" Mike Tyson to tell his story - from his bullied young self to the manic depressive trash-talker who coined phrases like "...( read more)I will eat your children". On a superficial level, it's a remarkably simply picture. Once in awhile there are split-screens and echoed conversations, but the bulk of the film is composed of a lone Tyson discussing his life to the camera. He's rarely accompanied by music, and the archival footage is used only to accent Tyson's accounts, not to tell the story on their own. It's fitting for two reasons - not only does it give us an incredibly intimate look at a man most of us only know from his negative media coverage, but it illustrates Tyson as a victim of his own fame. A bullied boy, still alone, left only to reflect and regret. He puts it simply: "old too soon, smart too late".

    "Tyson" is the Mike Tyson story as told by Tyson himself. We're never given insight by his friends, family, or media reporters - we, as the audience, are simply meant to believe every word coming out of Tyson's mouth. And surprisingly, it's not a hard thing to do. He speaks eloquently and heartfelt. For a man many people would label as a "brute", he's remarkably thoughtful, poetic, and even quite critical of himself. While we cannot know whether or not everything he tells us is true, he sure is persuasive.

    Iron Mike grew up in a tough poverty-stricken neighborhood in Brooklyn. He was bullied often, including a particular tragedy in which some kids twisted the necks of his pet pigeons. One day, he fought back - and, much to his surprise, he was damn good at it. Thus the seeds were planted for the boy who would become the baddest man on the planet.

    The first turning point in his life came when he met the legendary trainer Cus D'Amato, who refined Tyson's boxing skills and set him straight after a stint in a juvenile detention center. D'Amato died a year before Tyson won his first heavyweight title, but Tyson speaks of him as though he were the sole reason he was able to escape the streets.

    The film covers many of the great media controversies - from his marriage to Robin Givens to the alleged rape of Desiree Washington. We also get his take on the infamous ear-biting incident. He says he was insane and uncontrollable, completely ashamed to have lost his cool. What's so remarkable about the way Tyson speaks is that we forgive him for everything he says. How can you not sympathize with a man so vulnerable and honest with himself?

    "Tyson" is simply fascinating. It's only flaw is that it's not two hours longer - I was dreading the end credits as I felt i'd only been given a teaser. So much more could've been covered in depth, from his relationship with Don King to an expanded analysis of his relationship with Desiree Washington. But, still, the film remains a wonderfully intimate and compelling portrait of a man most of us hardly ever thought twice about.
  • Dracula787
    October 8, 2009
    Dracula787
    I never followed Mike Tyson when he was a famous boxer, but one of my favorite hobbies is looking up Youtube videos of him saying ridiculous things during interviews. I have no idea what this guy?s specific problem is, but he?s clearly quite insane and as such I saw a lot of pot...( read more)ential in a movie profiling him. The movie takes the form of an extended interview, Tyson is seen talking directly to the camera and his inquisitor is never seen or heard. Tyson is not completely candid in his answers, but at the same time you get the sense that he really has convinced himself that the spin he puts on the stories are true. Perhaps the most compelling parts are the scenes where he recounts his childhood and the friendship he had with his first trainer Cus D?Amato. The movie?s monologue format was probably the best way to get Tyson to open up as I?m sure he?s weary of the media putting a spin on his own words. But at times the format does seem to hold the film back from its full potential, I felt like there was more to the story that I wasn?t getting.
  • perr2fam125
    November 19, 2009
    perr2fam125
    Damn what a boxer but what an asshole
  • iamthethinman
    November 13, 2009
    iamthethinman
    I am a documentary whore, but I dare you to try to start watching this movie, then stop watching after 10 minutes and not watch any more of it. It is very annoying at first, and still kind of annoying throughout because of this effect that is used where Tyson talks in different t...( read more)akes with overlapping audio and video in a tiled format. But you can?t help but be curious about Tyson be he is straight-forward and completely unguarded in his emotions in this movie. Even if you didn?t know much about him at all, you would be interested.

    For me, I know Tyson. My father was always a boxing fan. My middle adolscense was in a crappy neighborhood, so fighting was followed. And video games were starting to come up all around and Tyson had his own game. I knew the scandals, and even got stuck in traffic and got to the house where the PPV was on the moment after the bite ended that historic match. All of that is recapped, plus the emotion behind all of the personal strife. He is surprisingly deep in his thoughts and can convey them fairly well. I didn?t know about his childhood in that detail, and this movie is very eye-opening. You can?t help but feel a slight bit of pity on him. For me, I feel a lot.

    This is a great documentary. Anyone should see it if given the chance. It takes a lot of liberties with the facts of his boxing career, but I think the majority of those that will watch it know boxing?s history.
  • DjAquatic
    October 26, 2009
    DjAquatic
    compeling and informative!
  • 339z
    October 18, 2009
    339z
    wow what a movie 2 watch....i have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch........its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie.....i think that the director of this documentrary/real-life movie had done a good job of directi...( read more)ng this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie....this really gives you an insight to mike tyson......i think that some of his fights were really good.....i remember when he bit of evanderholyfield's ear in 1997.....i think that he was a brilliant boxer he had the whole world at his feet bt this just proves to show that this is an awe inspiring documentray movie this is a fantastic brilliant movie 2 watch n its so sad at times but this is a great movie 2 watch n its a really powerful movie 2 watch
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 15, 2009
    dukeakasmudge
    I dont what to say about this film.You just have to watch it yourself

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Critic Reviews

May 8, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Toback, to his considerable credit, turns that view around by showing Tyson as a complicated person who has more thoughtful things to say. full review

May 8, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

With Tyson, [director James] Toback has found a documentary subject as tragic and ridiculous, as bizarre and driven, as the heroes of his other films. full review

May 7, 2009
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Deploying multiple split screens and a discreet but effective score, Tyson is hugely engrossing at the same time that it is not entirely credible. full review

April 30, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

James Toback's Tyson is a documentary with no pretense of objectivity. Here is Mike Tyson's story in his own words, and it is surprisingly persuasive. full review

April 24, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Mike Tyson is a damaged man but a man nonetheless. Dismissing him as an animal, a habit he sometimes falls into himself, is an error. His mind is far from empty, although it's a lonely, haunted place,... full review

April 24, 2009
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Think you've seen enough of Mike Tyson for a lifetime? Think you know as much about him as you want to? Think again, and see James Toback's terrific documentary Tyson. full review

April 24, 2009
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

A brutally honest documentary gets Mike Tyson to put it all out on the record, and the results may surprise you. full review

April 24, 2009
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Tyson is worth seeing even if you have no particular interest in the sport or the man. full review

April 23, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

You won't know what hit you after watching Tyson. This power punch to the gut is one of the best movies of any kind this year. full review

April 23, 2009
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

Tyson offers no point of view other that that of Mike Tyson himself. He's impossible not to like and the gentle quality of his voice is entirely disarming. full review

View more Tyson reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • superb66
    April 22, 2009
    superb66
    Hey I'm a big fan of Mike's!! We love you up here in Canada.. I would (We all) love to see you go in the UFC making money the way you know best! Beating Guy's up. Making movie's is Ok but it's not you! Be yourself!! You only need to fight a couple of fights to make the Big Bucks!!! What you say Mike? You only live once Bro ;)
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