1. Did I enjoy this film? YES
"If he wasn't here, I probably wouldn't be alive today. The fact that he's doing so well gives me the motivation to stay alive." That's a line right out of Rocky V that Rocky Balboa's manager, Mickey Goldmill, says to him in a flashback sequence. What I didn't know was that most of that speech was not written by Sylvester Stallone at all, but from an interview by Cus D'Amato, Mike Tyson's trainer, mentor and father figure. Tyson gives a lot of credit to D'Amato for his success, taking a young kid going down the wrong path and teaching him to respect himself and learn the art of boxing. When I was a kid, I had a favorite player for every sport: Andre Dawson for baseball, William "The Refrigerator" Perry for football, Michael Jordan for basketball and Mike Tyson for boxing. The man showed an intensity and a fearless attitude that made me admire him greatly. After D'Amato's death, however, it seems that Tyson was never the same. Although he did gain the heavyweight championship of the world, Tyson freely admits he became sexually promiscuous (hurting both of his marriages) and very fearful of everyone around him. Then came the rape charges, which he spent several years in prison for. The life and career of Mike Tyson is nothing short of one of the greatest tragedies in the modern sports world. By 2005, Tyson's final fight, it's clear that his fire and love for boxing is gone. What's so compelling is how honest Tyson is about his mistakes and how emotional he becomes when talking about D'Amato. What will become of Tyson's future? Even the man himself isn't sure what direction he's headed. Maybe watching a few Rocky movies is just the therapy he needs.
2. Would I watch it again? YES
This film is compelling from start to finish. I actually felt sorry for Tyson watching this movie and hope there will be a Tyson II in another ten years that shows how he turned his life around for the better.
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