When faced with the prospect of viewing a Mike Tyson documentary it is hard to imagine coming out of the theater feeling any differently towards a man, who for decades has been known for much of what is considered evil in the society in which we live today. However, this documentary has absolutely given Mike Tyson a second chance in my mind. Although it did not completely clear this man of his reputation it was an important and large step for him on his way back to being accepted into society.
The documentary is an extremely personal look into the life of a man who truly made something from nothing. As this man recounts the tails of his childhood and his extremely troubled upbringing, you begin to feel a sense of understanding for who he became. Just coming into his teen years and already a thief he himself seems to understand that his life was extremely lucky. He remembers and understands that he probably should have been dead long ago or still incarcerated, and although his life in no way turned out perfect it without a doubt turned out much better than he could have ever imagined.
His boxing career started inside a juvenile detention center where many of these troubled young men used boxing as a coping mechanism and a way to relive their anger. Tyson had found his passion and his serenity in the ring. It was boxing that first instilled any type of discipline in his life. Admittedly, Tyson turned himself into and absolute animal, a beast, in the ring. His speed, size, and determination were unmatched in the ring. His honed his skills and set a goal in his mind to become the greatest. And that is just what he did.
Tyson is captivating on camera and he speaks much in the same way he lives his life–– without a censor. Much of who is shocks people. From his public outbursts before and after the fights to his extremely open sexuality very little that Mike Tyson has done, does, and will do is without controversy. Tyson is finally able to be heard in this documentary, as he offers his side to the stories that so many people have judged him for. And surprisingly his perspective is often times credible and understandable. He seems to have a newly found air of responsibility for himself that was not present in his past. He often times shows his softer more apologetic side, which presented itself more and more later in his boxing career and his life.
This documentary only helped Tyson improve his image. Of course he does not deny the fact that he was at one time a ferocious animal ready to kill anyone willing to get in his way, but his acceptance and admittance of that fact only makes him all the more relatable. He reminds us that we all have flaws, and that we all make mistakes, but he may have made his mistakes far bigger and more extensive then most.
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