TYSON

US, 1995, 104 minutes, Colour.

George C.Scott, Paul Winfield, Michael Jai White, James Sikking, Malcolm-Jamaal Warner, Tony Lo Bianco, Clark Gregg, Holt Mc Callany, Kristen Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin.

Directed by Uli Edel.

Tyson is an HBO telemovie from 1995, made at the time that Tyson was released from prison after the guilty verdict of his raping of the candidate for a beauty pageant. It is very interesting to watch this film in later years, knowing what happened to Tyson afterwards, his boxing career, (and the biting of the year of his opponent), his involvement in films and television.

However, this film goes into his background in the neighbourhoods of New York, some police charges, his coming to the notice of famed trainer Cus D’Amato, played here with some force by George the Scott, his being trained, brought into a household of trainees, adopted by tomato and the housekeeper, Kelly. He then goes on to win a number of bouts, leading to world heavyweight champion.

The film also shows the darker side, his unreliability, the effect of his ambiguous upbringing, the death of his mother, his relationship with women, violence, drinking and drugs.

The film also highlights his relationship with Robin Givens, her television career, her love of publicity, the marriage, allegations of violence, criticism of Tyson as manic depressive, the divorce and settlement. The screenplay is definitely not in favour of Robin Givens.

Michael J White gives a strong performance as Tyson. And, there are quite a number of character actors in substantial roles in 1995, Clark Gregg, Holt McAloney, James seeking, Tony Lo Bianco, but, best of all, Paul Winfield is the flamboyant entrepreneur, Don King.

Direction is by the German, early April, who made some striking film is in Germany and in the United States, including Christiana F, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Rasputin.

1. A film of 1995? Mike Tyson, his life and career to this point, background, training, success, titles, personal life, marriage, divorce, rape accusation, guilt, prison? Audience knowledge of Tyson’s career after 1995, ups and downs in boxing, retirement, acting in films, marriages and children, personality, quotes?
2. The perspective of the film, based on the book, Fire and Fear, Cus D’ Amato and his advice? An objective presentation of Tyson, his background, growing up, family difficulties, his mother and her death, with friends, guns, police charges? His boxing skills, hard-hitter? Taken into training, Cus D’ Amato and his discipline, eccentricities, favouring of Tyson? The bouts, professional, Teddy Atlas, the falling out concerning his sister, Kevin Rooney, constant support and training, angers? Cus D’ Amato’s death, taken on by Jim Jacobs, affection for him? Management by Clayton? Drinking, out with friends, following the girls, relationships?
3. The boxing sequences, communicating the skills of Tyson? Their effect on him personally?
4. George the Scott as Cus D’ Amato, personality, determination, training, discipline in the night, the ice cream issue, in the gym, his clients? With Callie, inviting him to the house, the issue of adopting him? His collapse, the visit to hospital, his death? Callie and her original suspicions, accepting him, agreeing to the adoption, his later visits to her, her watching the fights?
5. Teddy Atlas, the training, the episode with his sister, the clash with D’ Amato and leaving? Kevin Rooney, constantly there, in the gym, the training, advice, support in the ring, exasperation is, outbursts? The final break? The information about suing Tyson?
6. Jim Jacobs, businessman, bonding with Tyson? Clayton, present the matches, businessman, his wife? The business side of things? The discussions with Don King, his being fired?
7. Robin Givens, the film’s perspective on her, her motivations, her media career, Tyson and his infatuation, phoning, the contact, Robin Givens and her mother controlling her? The meetings, the publicity, financial issues, the home in New Jersey, her pregnancy, the miscarriage (and the suggestion that this was a ruse)? His leaving her for Cus’s funeral? The return, together, the change, accusations of violence, financial issues, the interviews, at the mansion, his anger, her leaving? The divorce? Settlements? The presentation of Robin Givens as a golddigger?
8. The presence of Don King, Paul Winfield, his appearance, manner, audience knowledge about his work as a promoter, self-confidence, associates, deals, pressures, smiling, insinuations, the pressure on Tyson, disappointment with him, the financial deals with Clayton?
9. Tyson, the beauty pageant, the rehearsal, his inviting Miss Washington, her seeming hesitation, the accusation of rape, the court case, his prison sentence?
10. Tyson by 1995, achievement, downfall? And the ironies of his life and career for the next quarter of a century?