Product Details

• Actors: Mike Tyson
• Directors: James Toback
• Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
• DVD Release Date: August 18, 2009
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001UV4XBK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,744 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Tyson [Blu-ray]" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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. --Kathleen C. Fennessy




Stills from Tyson (Click for larger image)

Product Description

TYSON - Blu-Ray Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mike Tyson's Life Story, October 23, 2010

By 

stoic (Mobile AL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tyson (DVD)

Like a lot of sports fans, I followed Mike Tyson's career. The story of the delinquent from Brooklyn who became the heavyweight champ was tough to resist. When I saw all of the positive reviews of the film Tyson, I looked forward to watching it. After watching, I felt mildly disappointed; the media has covered Tyson's life with such intensity and for so long that nothing in the film seems fresh or revealing.

By any measure, Tyson is a great story. He's stood on the highest peaks and sunk to the lowest depths in his forty-odd years. For viewers who have are not familiar with Tyson, there is plenty to sustain interest. The intense coverage of Tyson has left reams of video that director James Toback weaves together to tell Tyson's story. However, viewers who are not boxing fans probably will find some of the slow-motion shots from Tyson's boxing matches to be grotesque.

The film also includes lots of soul-searching interviews with Tyson. Tyson struggles to put his life in perspective and makes some revealing comments; all too often, however, he blames his biggest failures on others. One problem with the interviews is that Tyson often slurs his words, making him difficult to understand. The slurring reminds me of Muhammad Ali at about the same age and it makes me worry that Tyson may also have brain damage from boxing.

Tyson's life has been so remarkable for so long that his story may be better suited to a book. I'm glad I watched this film; I'm just not as enthusiastic as are other reviewers.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely changed my opinion of Mike Tyson, September 13, 2009

By 

Migzilla "TMM" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tyson (DVD)

I watched most of Mike Tyson's big fights growing up. But after the stories of uncontrollable anger, biting off part of another boxer's ear, and rape conviction, how could I not think he was the scum of the earth?

I have come to realize three things after watching this documentary. First, Mike Tyson could have been the best fighter ever, had he done a better job controlling himself outside of the ring (no question about it). Second, the media seemed to have a good time portraying him as a jerk. Third, he was only human. I consider myself a good person, but I'm sure I would have made many of the same dumb mistakes if I were in his shoes.

I found myself feeling compassion for Tyson and believing he is actually a good person. Perhaps he was just too successful at too young of an age? Whatever the case, I would love to sit and enjoy a nice cold beer with the guy.

The documentary is told in Tyson's own words. The documentary shows clips of many of Tyson's fights as well as telling his story about his childhood.

This video would be enjoyed most by people who knew Tyson, regardless of what their opinion of him is. For others who weren't as familiar with him, they likely won't enjoy it is as much but should still be entertained by the story of his life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Misunderstood Mike Tyson, October 14, 2011

By 

Mike Hunt - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tyson [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Mike Tyson is one of the most misunderstood people to have ever come along. I have been a boxing fan, especially a Mike Tyson fan, for years now and even I didn't know a lot of the back story of Mike Tyson. There is so much misinformation floating around about Mike Tyson. The biggest of these is that Mike is a rapist. Mike was framed by a woman who seemed to make a career out of framing men for rape. He was a tough kid from the streets who really didn't have much of an education and went right into the ring and into the spotlight. The Holyfield ear bite was because Holyfield was headbutting Tyson for 2 fights and was getting no help from the referee. Holyfield is on the list of dirtiest fighters ever as he has performed the "accidental" headbutt in every one of this fights (ever seen Rahman's head after the Holyfield fight?). I agree what Tyson did was wrong but he was a tough kid from the street who was backed into a corner. How did you expect him to react? If you watch the fights of Mike Tyson he went over after pretty much every single fight he ever had to make sure the other fighter was OK and helped them up. Mike talked about being scared each and every time he went into the ring. I really feel bad for the way things have turned out for him but I'm glad to see he didn't make a really big mistake and end up in prison for life. He seems to be pretty happy now but what happened to his daughter 2 years ago was a tragedy. Regardless of what anyone says Mike Tyson in the top 3 for hardest punchers of all time and that is a fact.