Mike Tyson: War & Peace…

Predictably, the flick garnering outright adoration and even a standing ovation at its first screening at this week’s SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL is the gripping “Tyson” documentary by director and miraculous Tyson wrangler JAMES TOBACK. Told entirely in the lisping voice of the former champ in footage culled from countless hours of interviews, the father of six recounts his rise and fall, from early days being bullied as a fat kid (”It was kill or be killed”), and being forced to defend himself in juvenile detention at age 12, to his training with legendary Cus D’Amato (”I knew all the skullduggery … most of these guys lost the fight before it even started”), to his days as world heavyweight champ (”Once I get in the ring, I’m a god”), and ultimately, his grisly public fall from grace (”I lost the desire to be a champion”) including a prison term and the infamous ear biting incident. Along the way, it’s revealed, Tyson squandered almost $400 million and lost nearly everything he’d ever earned, physically and emotionally. Toback has known the boxer since 1985 and was able to capture a raw and previously unseen look at the fighter. In Tyson’s words, “Jim, he just elicited all this stuff out of me, I don’t know how he did it.” Far from glossing over the fighter’s problems and controversial missteps, Toback’s subject instead offers a shockingly open assessment of his tumultuous life, verbally beating himself into a corner again and again. The film is slated for commercial release on April 24. Read more HERE.

The REAL Boyz-n-the-hood…

Over the years much has been said in the media about the burgeoning problem of gang violence in America, with particular emphasis on the legacy of LA’s notorious Crips & Bloods factions. Now, Skate industry legend and Bones Brigade mastermind-turned filmmaker STACY PERALTA, hopes to have created the definitive documentary on the phenomenon with his new film “Crips and Bloods: Made in America.” Known as the director of the excellent “Dogtown and Z-Boys” and porno-rifically named “Riding Giants,” Peralta leveraged his underground status to penetrate some of the most dangerous neighborhoods and situations in Los Angeles in his quest to obtain footage of the rival sets’ most violent leaders and “soldiers.” Narrated by actor FOREST WHITAKER, the film traces the origins of LA’s gang culture to the shocking, war-zone reality of daily life in inner-city Los Angeles as members of the Crips and Bloods perpetuate their bloody four-decades long feud. Contemporary and former gang members offer their street-level testimony that provides the film with a stark portrait of modern-day gang life: the turf wars and territorialism, the inter-gang hierarchy and family structure, the rules of behavior, the culture of guns, death and dishonor. Peralta also shines light on the overarching social causes of gang culture and a political system seemingly disinterested in bringing about its demise through effective outreach in favor of mass incarceration. Set to debut with a one week run later this month at NYC’s IFC Theater (January 23–29), before moving to LA’s Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (February 6–12), the film will continue on with arthouse showings in Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle before seeing mass release. Don’t miss it…

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BRAD PITT as Lion-o. Need we say more?…

…Aired in Japan, only, of course. That kind of stuff doesn’t happen here.

A curiously shirted Astro Boy runs out to kick Speed Racer’s ass…

2009 is gonna be a huge year for otaku Anime & Manga fans when the legendary ASTRO BOY finally hits the big screen in modern computer animated form in an eponymous feature based the highly successful Japanese franchise by OSAMU TEZUKA. Nicolas Cage’s inclusion in the film as voice “talent” will surely be a low point but hopefully they don’t mess this flick up completely. We need something to redeem last year’s “Speed Racer” fiasco bad…

Nearly 20 years after the death of iconic Pop artist KEITH HARING, filmmaker CHRISTINA CLAUSEN has produced a deeply personal and moving portrait of the man in her new film, “The Universe of Keith Haring” (Arthouse Films). Using archival footage of the artist at work in the streets and galleries of NYC alongside interviews with friends and family including Jeffrey Deitch, Fab 5 Freddy, David LaChapelle, Hans Mayer, Samantha McEwen, Carlo McCormick, Yoko Ono, Kenny Sharf, Tony Shafrazi, Junior Vasquez, and Joan, Allen, Kay, Karen, and Kristen Haring, Clausen traces the evolution of his career beginning in his childhood in conservative Pennsylvania through to the height of his international art world superstardom alongside pioneering contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, Futura 2000, Warhol, and yes, Madonna, allowing the viewer what is easily the closest look yet at the personal life of one of the modern art world’s most enduring aesthetic pioneers. Click HERE for an updated listing of theaters and showtimes.

Timed to coincide with this week’s epic FRIEZE ART FAIR in London, AARON ROSE will be hosting the UK premier of his “Beautiful Losers” film in collaboration with NIKE SPORTSWEAR at the BFI 52nd LONDON FILM FESTIVAL on Saturday, October 18th, with an encore performance on Tuesday, October 21st. As a special bonus, Mr. Rose will be onhand, along with CHERYL DUNN and RICHARD LIM for a special Q&A session immediately following the premier. For those in or traveling to London, best book seats for the event now by clicking HERE. Party people with energy to spare can also hit the screening afterparty for free by presenting their ticket stub at CORDY HOUSE in shoreditch, where original art by INSA, JAMES JARVIS, CHERYL DUNN, BEN DRURY, WILL BARRAS, and FRENCH will be on display. Don’t sleep…

Like millions of Americans, Supertouch homie/Vice Magazine founder/ STREETCARNAGE overlord GAVIN McINNES’ firstborn daughter Sophie was born completely unable to walk. Ever the vigilant parent, McInnes devoted the first 14 months of her life fighting the odds searching for a cure for her crippling condition, a quest documented in his newly-released film, “Sophie Can Walk.” Spoiler alert: You will weep…**Also available in the Streetcarnage parenting 101 series: “HOW TO RAISE HOOD RATS” (essential viewing)