From the headlines he made, the historic matches he fought to his infamous exploits, this series which explores the life of former professional boxer Mike Tyson is an explosive one.
Directed by Floyd Russ, “Tyson” is an emotional and reflective piece for 59 year-old Mike Tyson who appears pensive, reflective, mournful, sad, sheepish and even angry at times. Transparent about his historic battles, his cocaine and alcohol addiction and the intense personal and public turmoil he went through, “Tyson” is packed with famous names that include President Donald Trump, Tyson’s former advisor who pops in to offer commentary.
In the series, the boxer has plenty to say about his flaws and mental health struggles, as audiences are shown backstories and images from his childhood and footage of him in training sessions with his mentor and boxing manager Cus D’Amato.
With raw honesty, he confronts the choices he’s made and it’s good to see him speaking about those monumental incidents whether it’s reminiscing about his childhood in Brownsville playing with pigeons or addressing the media headlines that plagued him.
Featured in the piece is his former bodyguard Anthony Pitts, his childhood friend and manager Rory Holloway, musician Bobby Brown, his daughter, Miki, son Miguel, wife Kiki, British boxers Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis whom Tyson sparred with early in his career and fought in 2002.
A well rounded 4-part series with fascinating footage and a stirring score, “Power” deals with Tyson’s teenage years in Brooklyn’s tough Brownsville neighborhood where he was frequently bullied and arrested to his ascension into the boxing ring at age 13.
“Greed” and “Trust” follows his meteoric rise, his extravagance, his famous fights with James Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield, his marriages, the rape trial to his stint in prison.
The final episode “Human” has a more mellow and reflective tone addressing his actions in the ring, the IRS tax lien, his lawsuit against promoter Don King for 100 million dollars and his final fights.
There’s a flood of all-access sports docs with athletics sharing their stories and struggles and what sets “Tyson” apart is that it feels unfiltered and deeply personal.
Russ has scoured specific footage which aptly builds drama, tension, and emotional connection and uses a strategic mix of archival materials and freshly captured media to tell a turbulent story of fame, influence, and controversy. At the end of it all one of the most feared and fascinating figures in sports history remains candid, unguarded, and real and it’s a powerful portrait of greatness, fall, and redemption of the youngest heavyweight champion.
From his chaotic upbringing in New York’s crime-infested Brownsville neighborhood, his bizarre antics, the ear biting, the thigh biting, the rape charge, his marriage to Robin Givens to his addiction to cocaine, director Floyd Russ delivers a heavy weight documentary.
“Tyson” releases on Netflix Tuesday, October 13th.
