Baddest Man On the Planet

Author(s): Ross Jensen
Location: TN

“Baddest Man On the Planet”

Directed by Peter Berg
Written by Paul Scheuring and Peter Berg
Edited by William Goldenberg
Music by John Murphy
Produced by Michael Mann

Principal Cast:

Jamie Foxx Mike Tyson
Anthony Hopkins Cus D'Amato
Matt Damon Kevin Rooney
Jada Pinkett Smith Robin Givens
Louis Gossett Jr. Don King

Synopsis: A raucous crowd can be heard outside the locker room. Mike Tyson (Jamie Foxx) sits in final preparation for his fight in Tokyo, Japan against James "Buster" Douglas.

Flashback to years ago with a young Tyson fighting in juvenile jail. He wins easily over everyone and is discovered by legendary trainer Cus D'Amato (Anthony Hopkins). D'Amato takes Tyson out of jail and vows to keep an eye on him as he lets Tyson spar and fight in his gym.

Back in Tokyo, Japan, Tyson fights Douglas. Tyson, who is the heavily favored to win is slow and Douglas surprises him with good hits.

Flashback to Tyson's relationship with Cus D'Amato. D'Amato is an aged, veteran, tough talking, and highly respected trainer. Tyson, who trusts and respects no one at this point, learns just that from being around D'Amato and his protegee Kevin Rooney (Matt Damon). D'Amato legally adopts Tyson and teaches him life lessons.

Back in Tokyo, Tyson fights through middle rounds against Douglas and knocks him down in Round 8, but Douglas rises from the canvas to fight some more. Tyson is very fatigued as he goes back to his corner.

The wild Tyson who is only held in check by D'Amato breezes through the low ranks and into the higher ones of the heavyweight world. But, Tyson discovers one day that D'Amato passed away and he becomes angered at the loss, but is focused on winning for his late father. He enlists D'Amato's protegee and Tyson's best friend Kevin Rooney, who trains Tyson intensely. Tyson wind the title in brutal fashion as he dismantles Trevor Berbick and is thrown into the media spotlight and a level of fame only hinted at before. The young Tyson is lost in a whirlwind of parties, women, and money. He marries Robin Givens (Jada Pinkett Smith) which turns physical as she seems to have married him just for his money. But, Tyson won the undisputed championship over Michael Spinks thanks to the heavy training program of Kevin Rooney in the Catskill Mountains. The media world goes into a Tyson craze. After the fight, historic trainer Don King (Louis Gossett Jr.) offers Tyson a large sum of money to be his promoter. The only catch is that he had to fire Kevin Rooney. So Tyson betrayed his only friend. Don King set up Tyson with a fight against Buster Douglas in Japan.

Back in the Tokyo fight, Buster Douglas hits Tyson and he is knocked out for his first defeat. The media scrutiny of Tyson is maddening. His private life turns brutal and falls into depression for leaving Rooney and all the people he betrayed and the people that betrayed him. He divorced his wife and while visiting Indianapolis, he is accused of rape and sent to prison for five years.

Seven years later. Tyson is in his room praying and reading the Koran. His trainer comes in and tells him "It's time." TYSON v. HOLYFIELD. Tyson is getting beaten by Holyfield late in the fight. Holyfield repeatedly head butts Tyson without notice by the referee. So, Tyson bites Holyfield's ear in retaliation and takes a large chunk out of it. Tyson is quickly disqualified and gets into it with spectators as they throw bottles at Tyson as he leaves.

Tyson is sitting in a park far away from anything that has to do with boxing. He sits alone except for a few pigeons he is feeding. He looks off into the distance, reflecting on what was and what could have been.

What the press would say:

"Baddest Man on the Planet" was what Mike Tyson was known as to the world. It forms the very basis of what the film is about: a man who was misunderstood by nearly everyone. The film shows Tyson in a peaceful state as he is mentored by Cus D'Amato, and his state changes as his life progresses and things go wrong.

Jamie Foxx as Mike Tyson was absolutely fun to watch. Foxx's talent of mimicry is second to none as he shows Tyson's guardedness, caution of speech, intense physicality, and wariness of strangers. He shows Tyson very much as an outsider that got caught up with a bad group of people that dragged him down. Foxx bulked up for the role as he gained nearly 20 ponds of muscle. He also has Tyson's somewhat high-pitched lisp down perfectly, and when he gets angry as Mike Tyson, he does it with such a ferocity that it's scary. But, he also showed the emotional side to Tyson where he cries after hitting his wife among other things.

Anthony Hopkins plays an extremely important role as Tyson's first trainer and and father, Cus D'Amato. Hopkins hides his British accent flawlessly and becomes a tough-talking, legendary, old-school boxing trainer from New York. He is the only person that truly understands Tyson and teaches him the right way to do things in society. He teaches Tyson that character beats skill every time. It's interesting to watch Hopkins act in this role that had such a huge impact on Tyson's life.

This film shows Tyson as a sympathetic character that always wanted to do right, but lacked the guidance. The film balances boxing and personal life nearly seamlessly. The screenplay and direction never gets over the top or into any cliches. It's very raw and what it shows is how it was and that seems pretty unique for films these days.

Possible Nominations:
Best Actor (Jamie Foxx)
Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins)
Best Original Screenplay (Paul Scheuring and Peter Berg)
Best Director (Peter Berg)
Best Picture
Best Editing