Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Commentary by director James Toback

• A Day in the Life of James Toback (16:11 - HD!)

• Footage from the L.A. Premiere with Mike Tyson

• Iron Mike: Toback Talks Tyson (11:49 in SD)

• The Fabulous Picture Show (13:08 in HD!)

Bitrate:

 

Description: 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. Neglected as a child, the Brooklyn-born youth took solace in his pigeons--much like Marlon Brando's boxer in On the Waterfront--before turning to stealing and brawling in his teens until legendary trainer Cus D'Amato spotted his talent and helped him to develop the discipline and self-confidence he lacked. Tyson fought many of his most famous bouts after D'Amatos death, but never quite recovered from the loss. Toback tracks the fighter’s rise in the 1980s, followed by his fall in the '90s and ‘00s: the turbulent marriage to actress Robin Givens, the infamous ear-biting incident, and the notorious rape conviction (about which he maintains his innocence). 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.

Excerpt Kathleen C. Fennessy from at Amazon.com located HERE

 

 

The Film:

In Tyson, James Toback’s shockingly candid documentary, one of sport’s most fascinating figures makes an unlikely comeback, and a bid for redemption. Toback offers a portrait of a thug as a noble savage. The film shows that Mike Tyson is as iconic a figure as Muhammed Ali. Of course, he lacks Ali’s elegance and nobility. But Tyson is a more profoundly tragic hero—the bigger the hubris, the harder they fall. As one critic noted after last night’s screening, he’s like Ali’s evil twin.

Toback’s “documentary” is a one-man show: Tyson is the only interview. But what prevents it from turning into hagiography is the subject’s talent for devastating self-exposure. He talks about how his groin was burning with gonorrhea as he demolished his opponent to win his first world heavyweight title match—unsure if he got the clap from a prostitute or a “filthy lady.” He castigates his ex-wife, Robin Givens, with withering profanity. Still claiming to be innocent of the rape that landed him in prison for three years, he says, “I may have taken advantage of women before but not that woman.” A defense couched in a confession. Tyson talks frankly about sex, explaining how he likes to dominate strong women, not masculine women, but CEO types. He says he likes to stalk them, like a tiger stalking prey, and “devour” them. The man’s misogeny is jaw-dropping. So are his fists. The interview material is intercut with boxing highlights from his career, and for those of us who aren’t boxing fans, and are familiar only with Ali’s liquid grace, the blinding speed and homicidal fury of Tyson’s punches comes as a revelation.

Excerpt from Maclean's magazine located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.
 

Tyson is a documentary that constitutes an excerpted original interview with Mike Tyson interspersed with archival footage and photographs - all occasionally framed via split screens. Hence, the quality varies depending on the source. The interview looks to have been shot with an HD camera with some bleeding of the sunset colors on the beach-walking sequence. Close-ups of 'the man' can look quite detailed but this is not a Blu-ray that you would demo for the sterling visuals. Some of the stills are are very impressive but the ESPN fight footage doesn't look especially good. I expect that most people will be watching this for documentary appeal not expecting modern-film quality when it comes to the image. This sneaks into dual-layered territory with the feature taking up over 20 Gig supported by a decent bitrate in the high 20's. Colors seem brighter and probably even boosted at times in the archival footage - perhaps in an attempt to improve their quality.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The audio is fairly non-consequential - there is some nice 'Rocky-style' music to start the documentary and dialogue is always clear and clean on the Dolby TrueHD at a modest 1346 kbps. The 5.1 is rarely utilized for separation. Tyson's track is dutiful in presenting the film's audio which has nothing remarkable to export. There are optional English or French subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Like many, I am totally intrigued by Iron Mike. He has such a strange and honest charisma to him. Whether things in the film are all true or not one can't help but sympathize with this man-child thrust into his unconventional 'celebrity' status. I, honestly, have always felt that Mike Tyson suffered most from lack of a father figure in his life - which the absence of Cus D'Amato seems to have led to the beginning of his eventual downfall - not so much as a fighter but, perhaps, a human being. There is some real redemption to his story and it is somewhat uplifting to see him, possibly, on a more positive track for his life. He remains absolutely fascinating as a 'noble savage' surrounded his entire life by corruption. I couldn't help but think of The Simpsons mock-up of him ('Drederick Tatum') as they seems to have really nailed his 'language' perfectly - shocking articulate at times with poor grammar and diction. This Blu-ray does its job and if the DVD has the commentary I'd recommend that almost as equally. This is worthwhile viewing - I've seen it 3 times now. Yes, watch it!  

Gary Tooze

August 11th, 2009