Former boxing champion Mike Tyson recently showed audiences his comedic side in The Hangover, but he's hitting the big screen tonight in a serious documentary.
Tyson, an official selection at both the Sundance and Cannes film festivals, will debut tonight at the State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave.
Mike Negra, executive director of the State Theatre, said that Tyson was selected because of its rave reviews from movie critics. He said that Tyson is a highly recognizable individual, and the theatre is looking forward to showing the documentary.
"We've heard nothing but great things about it," he said. "Mike Tyson has been very sad and controversial in the news -- even recently."
Directed by James Toback, Tyson is a mix of original interviews and archived video footage and photographs. Through these media, a different side of Tyson is shown to the audience: a human being with more complex emotions -- different from the public image commonly known.
Paul Zelinka, boxing enthusiast and owner of Titan Fitness, 412 W. College Ave., thinks this film will not attempt to excuse Tyson from his mistakes, but will give audience members a greater understanding of his actions and put the skeptics in Tyson's shoes. He said that Tyson, being such a dominant sports figure, is one of the main reasons why he is a sports fan.
As a college student in 1988, Zelinka had the opportunity to speak with heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes, who devoted some time to Tyson during the talk. In this interview, Zelinka heard what he called a "prophetic" quote, which has always made Zelinka feel like he has a strange connection to Tyson.
"I asked him who was going to beat Mike Tyson," Zelinka said, "and he answered, 'the only person who is going to beat Mike Tyson is Mike Tyson.' He was right because as great of a boxer as he was, he was out of control out of the ring."
Tyson is the type of person who needed a central figure for guidance, Zelinka said, and as he gained fame throughout his career, he became a disposable commodity to his business associates, which may have contributed to some of his destructive actions.
"His personal life was clearly a manifestation of Holmes' prediction."
Zelinka said that this film will certainly be beneficial as a "how-to and a how-not-to" guide to becoming a boxer for any sports fan. Zelinka hopes the film will show Tyson as a more sympathetic character.
Dan Testa (junior-kinesiology), a member of the Penn State boxing team, has already made plans to go see this film. He thinks that the film will show people who didn't know about Tyson's upbringing what he went through when he was young.
"From what I've read about him, he didn't have the easiest life, and I'm sure that had an effect on what happened to him," Testa said. "He's one of the greatest fighters ever -- definitely one of my favorites."
Testa thinks that the film will be a big hit in the boxing community. He said that no one has ever matched Tyson's blend of speed and power. Agreeing with Zelinka, he doesn't think that the film will support Tyson's mistakes, but will help others to understand his psyche.
"He's kind of crazy, and aside from all his personal tirades and whatever he had going on, I think he's one of the best ever," he said.
Justin Postal (senior-accounting), another member of the Penn State boxing team, would be interested in going to see the film.
Postal thinks Tyson's recent role in The Hangover helped his image because he isn't usually associated with comedy.
"People have just seen him getting arrested, but it's good that people got to see him act normal in that movie," he said.
