Dave McCoy, MSN Movies Lead Editor | |
Believe it or not, the premiere of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" wasn't the only thing happening in Cannes over the weekend. However, I must admit, things do feel a lot more subdued than the past two years I've covered the festival. With rising costs here (4 euros for a cup of coffee, or US$6.25), there are definitely less press and casual film fans in attendance. Those who are here are less vocal. I've seen 15 movies so far, many In Competition, but few are receiving mad applause or merciless boos even though it's been a very strong year. The energy just feels off.
Anyway, there is a lot to cover, so let's get to it ...
Raging Bull****
The only event that rivaled Indy last weekend was Mike Tyson's appearance on the Croisette. He was here promoting the documentary "Tyson," which is playing in the Un Certain Regard program. The man is a three-ring circus unto himself, so all the attention he received wasn't surprising. However, what was surprising was his reception. I've seen some bizarre things at Cannes during the past few years, but nothing compares to watching the former heavyweight champion-turned-freak-show get a standing, cheering ovation upon his introduction at the Debussy Theater on Friday night. And this was before the movie screen. So to recap: The thug who went to prison for rape, who has physically abused numerous people outside of the ring, who bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear during a fight and who famously said things (among thousands of inanities) such as "I want to rip out his heart and feed it to him. I want to kill people. I want to rip their stomachs out and eat their children" got a hero's welcome. I needed a vomit bag.
That reaction was nothing compared to the fawning the film got from the audience and subsequently the press. Director James Toback ("Fingers," "Two Girls and a Guy") said before the screening he wanted to show the iconic figure as a "noble human being." Reread my earlier description of Tyson ... and yet, Toback seems to have fooled them all. A French paper the next day led with the headline: "Mike Tyson, Tragic Hero." What a friggin' sham.
"Tyson" is as straightforward a documentary as can be: Mike Tyson looks straight ahead and tells his crazy and gripping life story, while Toback fills up the words with images from Tyson's fights, media coverage and more. If you want to listen to the verbose Tyson for 90 minutes, this is your dream come true. If you want objectivity, forget it. This is a subjective con job by Toback and Tyson. Tyson disputes the rape charges, but we've heard that before. Regarding the other crimes, he claims he blacked them out and can't remember the circumstances. Instead, we get to hear about Tyson's awful childhood and his lack of family and guidance. He tells us how he really loves women, that he never assaulted first wife Robin Givens and that they were "just kids" trying to make a marriage work. He shows us his sensitive side, often crying on camera when discussing trainer-turned-father-figure Cus D'Amato. Plus we get little secret tidbits such as how he had gonorrhea when he KO'd Trevor Berbick in 1986 to win the heavyweight championship (take note, future contenders!).
Tyson's story is fascinating, full of drama and controversy, which naturally make for great cinematic fodder. One critic here told me he thought it was a "great psychological examination." I don't disagree. However, what's insulting about "Tyson" is its false sense of history and complete lack of personal responsibility. Toback has crafted a film of such incredible manipulation and artificiality that it doesn't just leave a bad taste in your mouth, it also gags you.
What's worse is that it's being lapped up by viewers who simply take Tyson at his word. He arrived at Cannes as a monster; he left as a victim. The truth is somewhere in-between, but Toback's doc isn't interested in depicting that.