What a great documentary! Dennis Rodman has such an amazing life path and Todd Kapostasy is a skilled director who was able to depict deeply that multilayered controversial iconic and sensitive character. The film is wonderfully edited, has really interesting interviews, great footage on different moments of Rodman's life and excellent aditional acted scenes to complete it. ESPN 30x30 series has many fantastic sports documentaries, but this one on Dennis Rodman is perhaps the best of them all!
5 Reviews
Great documentary about a polarizing figure
gbill-748773 June 2020
A fascinating look at the life of Dennis Rodman, a polarizing figure on and off the court. The scenes showing his early life and the forces that shaped him - needing guidance, unconditional love, and a father figure, but not getting any of that - provided great insight into the person he turned out to be. The fact that he was homeless and could have easily led a life of destitution is mind-boggling. His improbable attachment to the Rich family in Oklahoma and his vulnerability when he got into the NBA with the Pistons are incredible.
All of it helped me understand Rodman's bizarre antics on and off the court over the years. He did some good things (played with incredible intensity, showed it was ok to express one's individuality, wore his heart on his sleeve, supported the LGBTQ community), and some bad things (played dirty, lost control of himself, was an absentee father, abused alcohol, and was naive with North Korea). I thought the show brought all this out reasonably well.
I didn't like the stylized direction though - addressing the fan on the couch, classifying high school castes, the spaceman floating over the earth, etc - every time it did something like this, I groaned, because it was so cheesy and didn't add anything. Also, when the documentary shows a lot of interviewees confessing they aren't psychologists, I thought, jeez, they should have just deleted all that and had an interview clip with an actual psychologist. That might have given it something a little more substantial.
Rodman is unique and a hard guy to understand, that's for sure. The episode made me think of this quote from Ram Dass, which I've always liked:
"When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn't get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don't get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.
The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying 'You are too this, or I'm too this.' That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are."
All of it helped me understand Rodman's bizarre antics on and off the court over the years. He did some good things (played with incredible intensity, showed it was ok to express one's individuality, wore his heart on his sleeve, supported the LGBTQ community), and some bad things (played dirty, lost control of himself, was an absentee father, abused alcohol, and was naive with North Korea). I thought the show brought all this out reasonably well.
I didn't like the stylized direction though - addressing the fan on the couch, classifying high school castes, the spaceman floating over the earth, etc - every time it did something like this, I groaned, because it was so cheesy and didn't add anything. Also, when the documentary shows a lot of interviewees confessing they aren't psychologists, I thought, jeez, they should have just deleted all that and had an interview clip with an actual psychologist. That might have given it something a little more substantial.
Rodman is unique and a hard guy to understand, that's for sure. The episode made me think of this quote from Ram Dass, which I've always liked:
"When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn't get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don't get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.
The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying 'You are too this, or I'm too this.' That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are."
How is this series rated 8.8
theknownames30 December 2020
Don't get me wrong, we thoroughly enjoyed the first episode we watched ( the Rodman episode) each episode is individually rated and none are as high as an 8 even so I can't get how the series is 8.8 . Anyway this was an excellent episode , engrossing even. Lots to learn about that man we grew up watching on the court and what may have been going on for him at the time - enlightening and entertaining . He is a very sweet guy
Impressive
kms79-467-98067218 May 2020
Best documentary I've ever seen.
Knowing how Dennis grew up as a child helped understand why he was the kind of person that never accept to be normal.
If you are interested in understanding human behavior and childhood years impact on the person this documentary is a must
Knowing how Dennis grew up as a child helped understand why he was the kind of person that never accept to be normal.
If you are interested in understanding human behavior and childhood years impact on the person this documentary is a must
Impressive life story!
rmfraga12 October 2023
Well done documentary series about Dennis Rodman. Being an NBA fan but not an American, this doc brought me a lot of new infos about him.
Good to know several different opinions about his life and moments, with insiders that bring real details for the public.
From tough childhood until 2019, they cover important step on his life and show relevant people on the way.
I missed more info about the family that took care of him during high school period. Maybe they didnt want to talk, I dont know.
Also worth mentioning numbers about his contracts and his current business structure / lifestyle.
Just some ideas.
Overall, great coverage and different point of views about his action. Really enjoyed.
Good to know several different opinions about his life and moments, with insiders that bring real details for the public.
From tough childhood until 2019, they cover important step on his life and show relevant people on the way.
I missed more info about the family that took care of him during high school period. Maybe they didnt want to talk, I dont know.
Also worth mentioning numbers about his contracts and his current business structure / lifestyle.
Just some ideas.
Overall, great coverage and different point of views about his action. Really enjoyed.
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