Films/DVD Asylum

I'm hesitant..

208.120.135.146

Dr Phibes

In Reply to: RE: Tyson posted by tunenut on April 25, 2009 at 10:44:44

I'm hesitant to see this one because of Mike's involvement and the empathy the filmmaker has for Tyson.

Although I enjoy balanced documentaries that challenge the viewer (Capturing the Friedmans), if one could leave this film with ambivalence about Mike's life choices would mean the film was manipulative and biased.

Tyson was a great dominating fighter for a few years - and a real creep.

Follow Ups:

perhaps you should be - tunenut 16:39:01 05/03/09 (2)
My friend with whom I saw this thought he was a thug and a creep and she expressed some empathy for him after seeing it.

A documentary in most cases has a point of view. And the point of view here is sympathetic. Although it is made perfectly clear that this man has done bad things to people. He talks about how, in a street fight, you need to almost kill someone because if they get up, they could come back with a gun. He's obviously been there, done that.

On the other hand, his story has elements of tragedy. He was a kid with nothing, no real family, just raw talent and many people used his talent and took as much as they could for as long as they could. He comes off as sad, alone, isolated. I felt empathy for him as well.
- RE: perhaps you should be - Dr Phibes 13:14:00 05/04/09 (1)
  What about the hundreds of other boxers who've had similar or worse childhood experiences who eventually became role models?
  I've seen interviews with the filmmaker who feels Tyson is misunderstood. That's fair enough, but some people think that about Hitler. Although everyone deserves a break - As I said, I'm leery of Tyson history being rewritten in the context of a "balanced" documentary.
  Although Tyson's early years as a boxer are a thrill to watch, his out of control antics are as appalling as anything I've ever seen.
  In all fairness Tunenut, I haven't seen this thing, you have.
  You seem to convey that my suspicions are unfounded, and this documentary is fair and unbiased?
  PS - I am a boxing fan and I've seen every Tyson fight. I've also Netflixed almost all available DVD's on Tyson.
  
  Edits: 05/04/09
  - did not mean to give the impression it is "fair and unbiased" - tunenut 20:38:47 05/04/09 (0)
    It is clearly a sympathetic portrait. It's an interesting view into a different kind of man. I understand the reference to Hitler- of course, I would not care much to hear his side of the story. So if you really despise the guy, you might as well skip it.

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