mike tyson Tagged Articles at Cinematical

It seems redundant and pointless to talk about how intimidating Mike Tyson is, but I admit that I was nervously excited when Cinematical was offered the opportunity to interview him in conjunction with the release of The Hangover. Having spoken to Tommy Lee Jones, the toughest of tough celebrity interviews, I'd survived gauntlets far more fearsome than dealing with a former heavyweight, especially since I'd recently seen Tyson, which offers a portrait of him at his most reflective, self-aware and lucidly articulate. But I did want to get a good, and more importantly real interview with him, not just lob softballs in his direction and be yet another guy who was too scared to ask a substantive question.

Tyson's cameo in The Hangover is just one great moment in a film with plenty of other ones, but it seems to mean more for him, if not also to him: while the film's $45 million opening-weekend haul means higher paychecks and better roles for co-stars Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis, its visibility and success gives Tyson a sense of humor, and moreover, a humanity that he's never quite achieved on such a significant scale. Cinematical spoke to Tyson on May 17 in Las Vegas, where the former prizefighter discussed what it meant to appear in the movie, looked back on the experience of making Toback's documentary, and talked about what the future holds for him following his recent adventures on the silver screen.

Some people might think Jamie Foxx has jumped the proverbial shark (and I don't necessarily disagree), but apparently Iron Mike Tyson didn't get the memo. Some extremely brave soul at MTV interviewed the former heavyweight champion, who once again revealed that he wants Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx to play him in a biopic.

Tyson told MTV, "I don't know [who might direct]... Jamie discussed the things he wanted to do. He didn't know which way he wanted to go, but it was something he wanted to do. He told me not to tell anybody [too much]. He's just interested in doing it."

Foxx's The Soloist is getting mixed reviews, and the movie itself was pushed back twice, from November 21, 2008, in what some thought would be an Oscar bid, to March 2009 and then once more to this weekend. However, it's possible that James Toback's doc on the fighter, Tyson, could drum up interest in a biopic.

I just saw Tyson, which is also opening this weekend (read our review), and while it didn't totally change my opinion on Tyson the man, it's absolutely engrossing. Other than clips of Tyson in the media, including footage of him with his mentor Cus D'Amato and with ex-wife Robin Givens on Barbara Walters and, oh yeah, him threatening a heckler ("I'll f*ck you until you love me, [homophobic expletive]"), the doc is literally all Tyson talking and it's hypnotic. While Toback doesn't pull any punches (har), the trust he established with the fighter over the years allows the viewer an unprecedented look into Tyson's mind and life. Plus, as someone who occasionally dons a pink pair of Everlast gloves, I was totally rocked by the footage of him fighting as a young man.

Besides, a star turn as an ear-biting convicted rapist has Oscar bait written all over it.

Cinematical has just received this exclusive poster for Tyson, a much buzzed-about documentary about former boxing champion Mike Tyson that's been making the festival rounds and is now ready to hit theaters on April 24. Directed by James Toback (The Pick-Up Artist, Bugsy), Tyson follows the life experiences of Mike Tyson through a mixture of original interviews, archival footage and photographs. As James tells us in his Cannes review of the film from last year, Tyson "is older, sadder, sober, off drugs and out of the fight game, trying to battle things you cannot simply strike with your fists." He later adds, "Tyson isn't just a look at the hitting and hitting back of boxing and a champion who defeated almost everyone who faced him; in its finest moments, it shows us a man determined to stop defeating himself." Meanwhile, I just wanna know why he covered half his face with that wacky tattoo?

Click on the image below to check out the full version of the poster. Tyson hits theaters on April 24.



I'm gonna knock you out ... Mama said follow me on Twitter ...

I feel like there's no right way to go about this, especially after yesterday's whole "I've barely seen Jim Jarmusch's work" bit, but I have admittedly seen (and admittedly enjoyed) most of Todd Phillips' work to date. His comedies tend to be slightly smarter about how to be dumb than most of their ilk, so between that and this new trailer for The Hangover, I'm willing to believe that he has something funny in store.

We've got three groomsmen (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zack Galifianakis of "Between Two Ferns" fame), one missing groom, an infant, a tiger, a squad car and Mike Tyson grooving on some Phil Collins -- all in the aftermath of a Las Vegas bachelor party that must've topped the shenanigans of Very Bad Things. Honestly, if you'd want more out of a minute-long trailer, I'd almost rather not know.

The Hangover is scheduled to open on June 5th, opposite Will Ferrell's Land of the Lost. By my count, it has some laughs to catch up on...

After a somnolent week in which it appeared that IFC Films was the only US distributor making deals at Cannes, Sony Pictures Classics sprang into action and snapped up two pictures, with a third possibly on the way. According to Anne Thompson of Variety, Sony Classics has acquired North American rights to the latest film by French filmmaking brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Lorna's Silence, as well as Norwegian director Bent Hamer's comedy/drama O'Horten, and are also in talks to pick up James Toback's documentary Tyson.

Cinematical's James Rocchi felt "in tune" with Lorna's Silence, which he says has provoked polarized reactions in Cannes; he concluded: "It's a strong film from strong filmmakers." The titular character is an Albanian woman living in Belgium who has entered into a marriage of convenience that turns out to be a complicated, life and death affair.

James Toback's known for cult classics (Fingers, Black and White) and puzzling experiments (When Will I Be Loved); this year, he's at Cannes with his new documentary Tyson, focusing on the life and times of a curiously muted and repentant Mike Tyson -- which received a standing ovation when it opened the Un Certain Regard selection. James Toback spoke with Cinematical at Cannes about the genesis of the project, the challenges of dealing with Tyson as a subject instead of as a friend, and about the ongoing negotiations with his 8-year old son over a possible part in his next film.

This interview, like all of Cinematical's podcast offerings, is now available through iTunes; if you'd like, you can subscribe at this link. Also, you can listen directly here at Cinematical by clicking below:

"They'll make hypocrite judgments
After the fact
But the name of the game
Is be hit and hit back ... "

-- Warren Zevon, "Boom Boom Mancini"

Boxing is a brutal sport. Does that mean you have to be a brute to succeed in it? Mike Tyson was the youngest ever heavyweight champion in the world; when he stepped into the ring, it was as if he was in absolute control over everything that happened. And when he stepped out, it was as if he had no control over anything that happened. He had a marriage implode in public. He served three years in prison for rape. He became a nightmare-parody of himself, pathetic and terrifying, telling challengers he would eat their children. And now, as seen in James Toback's documentary Tyson, he is older, sadder, sober, off drugs and out of the fight game, trying to battle things you cannot simply strike with your fists.

Hell hath frozen over, and there's some less shocking news to boot:

• Go figure! In April I mused that Mike Tyson might have a future in Bollywood, after he took part in a music video for the Indian flick -- Fool and Final. I never thought it would actually happen, but hell hath frozen over! Variety is reporting that the ear-hungry boxer wants to act in Bollywood movies. Apparently, Tyson says that "the atmosphere was very congenial, happy and energetic" on the set, although I'm not sure I can imagine him saying "congenial." Nevertheless, he's thinking about an acting future in India and is discussing the possibility with Firoz Nadiadwala, who produced Fool -- "We seriously intend to work toward it." I wonder what the folks over in India will think of the troubled man potentially becoming the next Bollywood star? It's just so surreal.
• Patrick Stewart, the ever-loved Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier, is once again warming up his narrating voice. He is going to be the voice behind the English-language version of the Earth documentary, which follows three animal families -- polar bears, elephants and hump-backed whales "on epic journeys across the world's most demanding and spectacular landscapes." I'm sure that means we'll have lots of cute moments intermingled with sad, animal realities. The actors describes the film as "a beautiful, comic, moving, urgent, private view of the environments and creatures with whom we share our home planet. It urges us, while delighting us with dazzling images, to address the pressing and desperate needs of this our fragile earth." So basically, it's the same old animal documentary material.
• Finally there's some strange, foreign weirdness by way of the folks over at Twitch. They've found trailers, a promo reel and making-of video for Italian director Stefano Bessoni's Frammenti di scienze inesatte. The man himself posted the clips on YouTube, and while the movie is from 2005, I wonder if this means it will get beyond its limited, Italian release. The movie is about a headmaster of medicine and natural science who has a number of strange students, such as a researcher of angels, who rent out an old house from him. He tries to support them, but also has a secret he is keeping from them. The clips look cool and go quite well with the music. Unfortunately, the making-of film has no subtitles, so you've got to either ignore the sound or brush up on your Italian. Warning: some of the clips are NSFW -- there are autopsy scenes that show people lying nude on the doctor's slabs.

If someone gave you the option of either jumping in a pool of acid or interviewing Mike Tyson for thirty hours, which one would you choose? Well, we know which route director James Toback took because he's currently prepping a new documentary based on the rise and fall of this legendary boxer. With completion set for this fall, Tyson will cover it all -- I mean, tell me you're not dying to find out how one man can go from being married to the ultra hot Robin Givens to biting the ear off Evander Holyfield. Who does sh*t like that? I guess we're about to find out.

At one time, Iron Mike was regarded as the greatest boxer in the world; the man was a machine, with guns the size of skyscrapers. However, the pressure to perform -- coupled with the money, the power and the glory -- transformed this lightening bolt into a monster. A monster, mind you, who sounded like a seven year-old. Toback, who's probably best known for helping the 1987 comedy The Pick-up Artist, has been fascinated with Tyson since meeting back in 1985; so much so that the director gave Tyson roles in two of his more recent films (Black and White, When Will I Be Loved). According to Toback, "[Tyson] was honest about all the things that have highlighted his life, from the bitter divorce, the ear-biting, prison, to his becoming a sex addict. He is self-aware, smart and a totally fractured personality, and he made himself completely vulnerable." Personally, I could care less about the man. In my opinion, once you start beating women (regardless of your state of mind or how many drugs you're on), I have no further interest in anything you might have to say. But that's me. No word yet on a release date; ICM is scheduled to sell all worldwide rights.

Hallelujah, it's the weekend! But there is still news to share:

• I am now 100% convinced that Peter O'Toole passed away, and some sort of robot took over his career. That is the only thing that makes sense considering the ever-growing number of projects that actor is involving himself with. Then again, maybe he just has a death wish and fittingly figures he should work himself into the grave by never stopping to catch a breath. Variety has reported that he and Sam Neill will be starring in a Canadian miniseries called Iron Road. Taking place during the final building moments of the Canadian Pacific Railway, it follows a poor Chinese girl who falls for a rich tycoon. Sources say his character is named "Relic." Sounds more like a Kung Fu role to me, but we'll see.
• Wonders never, ever cease. The latest words to be put together -- Mike. Tyson. Bollywood. Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it? According to the CBC, the ear-hungry fighter will join the cast of Fool and Final for a pop music video by Indian singer Himesh Reshammiya. The movie is about some sort of boxer who helps to foil a diamond heist. Sure, the boxing ties into the attention for Tyson, but that still seems like a huge jump to make. Could this be Tyson's re-imagining? Will he start donning colorful clothes and become a Bollywood dance star? Maybe not, but I can dream.
• Fie John Goodman. As Jessica Barnes shared a few days ago, he is being sued for backing out of the upcoming film Pope Joan. Now Constantin Film has officially stopped production. Is this really necessary? Can't they follow through with the suit while getting one of the many other men in the world to play the part of Pope Sergius? I really don't care what the particulars are. Get back into production, cast someone else and get me my Franka Potente!