Tyson – The Man and the Madness 1
They say that comedians are often the saddest souls around. It might follow then, that the toughest guys are also the most vulnerable. But if Mike Tyson is an indication of what lurks beneath a bad-ass, vulnerability is only the beginning.
“Iron” Mike grew up on the meanest streets of Brooklyn, a place where the entire cast of The Hills would be eaten alive. The crime life called out at an early age, and by the time Tyson was 13, he was already arrested 38 times. 38 times!
It all started with an altercation on the street that had him running for his life. He was just a kid when he had his first personal encounter with the incomprehensible malice humans can inflict on each other. That moment instilled a deep sense of fear in young Mike and he resolved to never be in that emotional state again.
The film goes on to chronicle his relationship with mentor and trainer Cus D’Amato, the man responsible for lighting the spark of Tyson’s blazing championships. The psychological strength he gains is awe-inspiring. He learns to defeat his opponents before the matches even start.
At times I question whether the documentary was made by his allies or his enemies. There are allegations he gets to lash at (the infamous rape accusation that would land him three years in the slammer), but there are instances, like a racially-charged, homophobic rant that do more to harm his image than restore it. And his cringe-worthy candidness of his sexual pursuits. Of course, it all underscores the goal of illuminating the mystery surrounding this controversial figure. And the things he reveal, are quite astounding.
The most compelling moments in the film come out of Tyson’s emotional telling of his tortured youth, his harrowing accounts of prison life and his own riveting admissions of the deep-seated fear that propelled his animal drive to win. The eyes of the beast are cold and menacing, but the seat of his soul is rife with grief and regret.
Tyson is a complex figure, easily dismissable on account of his wild, inexplicable actions and his flagrant fall from grace. But the documentary invites waves of compassion and even sympathy as we realize that a life once reduced to mere spectacle is actually just a product of the human condition.