TOBACK'S TYSON: BRILLIANT/FLAWED

A Greek tragedy?

Director James Toback makes several reverences in the commentary and supplementary material of his new Tyson DVD release, regarding the film's 10 or 12 minute standing ovation when screened last year at Cannes.

And while that type of rave for this sort of doc may seem a little out there, there is no doubt that Toback has made one of the greatest boxing related films of all time, but with caveats.

Because while Toback does not shy at displaying many-that's many- of Tyson's well, and not so
well known warts, the director makes it known in image and words that the considers Tyson in his prime (1986 to 1989 the greatest heavyweight, ever.
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At best, this is a stretch.
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Tyson beat Trevor Berbick-a real strain to make the top 10 of even the 80s best-for the title, and as Tyson and Toback note, most Tyson opponents lost the moment they stepped in the ring and saw the ferocious "baddest man on the planet." (Interestingly, there is no reference made in the film of this moniker widely give to Iron Mike in his hay-day.)
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Mike makes no such "greatest" boasts in the film, explaining rather eloquently why he did love boxing, although we come no closer to understanding the "real" Tyson, if in fact there is such an entity.
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Even more telling is Toback, in the commentary, not even including George Foreman or Joe Frazier as on par with Tyson. In this boxing watcher's opinion, both Frazier and Foreman in their primes-and maybe even Foreman on the come-back-may have defeated Tyson, who relied on bullying his opponents. Smokin' Joe and Big George did not bully so well.
Also a stretch is Toback's claim that Tyson was a great example of a "Greek tragedy." Not sure that traditional "Greek tragedy" had second and even third acts.
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In any event, while the film genuinely presents Tyson as much deeper crazyman-hurtchild than has been previously accepted-and as Toback says you can either choose to believe Mike's take or not-it is also obvious that Toback does not give much respect to Evander Holyfield, who beat Tyson up in their first fight, and had both his ears bitten up in the second.
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Toback, in his commentary basically explains aways Tyson's first loss, and subsequent second"bite fight" meltdown as the result of evil Evander leading with his noggin.
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Even more absurd is Toback's assertion, also in the commentary, that Tyson was "winning" the second fight before his disqualification.
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That's very interesting as most people watching the fight, and the pro boxing writers in attendance believed Mike was whipped, and flipped out to avoid being beaten again.
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Toback seems to want to ascribe "normal" reactions to Mike Tyson. I'd say that Mike is as far from "normal" as one could be and still walking around, 300 million dollars lighter.
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So, overall, if you want to see the "good" in Mike Tyson, some bad-Toback leaves out feuds with former trainer Kevin Rooney(who reportedly pulled a shotgun on Mike) and the ridiculous PPV "exhibitions" Tyson put on just before he officially retired-and some myth, then Tyson is for you.
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However, it would seem that at 42, without the bedrock of boxing for Tyson to give him some structure, and in Mike's own words, "the past is history, and the future, a mystery."