Surprising film

We just saw Tyson, a film about one of the best boxers in history. The film is a Greek tragedy–with Tyson playing the hero, villain, and chorus. I’m a boxing fan, so expected to like the clips, but did not anticipate being so intrigued by the man himself. He is complex: terrified, fearless, needy, violent, dangerous and kind.

As I watched, I learned a lot more about the life he’s led, which in turn pushes me to reexamine and rethink notions I have about violent behavior. This is not to say that I’m questioning the seriousness of Tyson’s crimes–or excusing them in any way. However, the film does compel one to think in more nuanced ways about the outside forces and inner demons that make one man a driven, ambitious and successful athlete who is adored, and another man a driven, ambitious and successful athlete who is despised…and rightly, feared.