“The recent release of ESPN’s ’30 for 30: Dennis Rodman: For Better or Worse’ goes a long way toward bringing justice to the way former Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman is sometimes viewed.” – Said no one ever.
Here is a look at what to takeaway from watching the new documentary about former Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman, brought to viewers by director Todd Kapostasy and ESPN’s “30 for 30” series.
It’s clear that ESPN’s “30 for 30: Dennis Rodman: For Better or Worse” doesn’t do a lot of justice for the Hall of Famer.
Why, you ask?
The opening narration sets high aspirations from the start when Kapostasy makes mention of wanting to curb common misconceptions that reduce the image of Rodman to parodies. Ultimately, the film makes an attempt to accomplish this feat only to get caught up in a running joke of its own about how to navigate the story to account for what Rodman says are gaps in memory about his early life.
As the film shows, fictitious reenactments were used to move the storyline along at various points, which could be viewed as fitting for this documentary but is otherwise leaving space for unanswered questions to linger and in turn further complicate the complex public persona that is Rodman.
Is it possible the film, by design, is meant to leave viewers guessing?
It’s plausible, for sure.
Does it help bolster the director’s main objective?
I think not. The documentary comes off feeling like a ploy to remind viewers of who Rodman is and why he remains such a recognizable public figure that you should want to keep tabs on.
The film takes viewers on a journey back in time with Rodman as he experiences winning championships with both the Detroit Pistons and the Bulls. It seems Rodman is as happy as he’s ever been in his life during these times.
In one scene during the film, Rodman is seen getting unabashedly emotional in the middle of a press conference in ways that many men aren’t. He learns that he’s been named the Defensive Player of the Year, and he struggles to contain how happy he is.
However, things aren’t always sunny in Rodman’s world despite all the accolades he would garner over the years.
The film whisks viewers along as Rodman thrusts himself into the night life during his time in the NBA, drinking and partying night in and night out. The storyline indicates how Rodman is exploited by some of the people he surrounds himself with. It speaks volumes as to how Rodman seems to view himself and how he wants to be liked by everyone.
As the film shows, Rodman has long harbored identity issues that manifest itself in his pursuit of love, acceptance and interpersonal connection from the unlikeliest figures in the most unrealistic ways imaginable.
Take, for instance, the times when Rodman is seen flexing his diplomatic chops in meeting with South Korea’s Kim Jong-un. About that time, many were skeptical of him for getting involved in international affairs in the manner he had. This did not deter Rodman. He has long been a very polarizing figure. As the documentary shows, people tend to either love him or can’t stand him.
The film also recounts the night when Rodman was allegedly ready to end his life while sitting inside his truck outside the Palace of Auburn Hills where the Detroit Pistons play. Whether or not Rodman would have actually hurt himself remains unclear.
As the film indicates, Rodman had a tough upbringing, which may answer some questions about his life. He was raised by his mother, and he grew up spending a lot of time with his sisters. The whereabouts of Rodman’s father are never fully explained in the film aside from him seemingly not wanting to be involved. As such, Rodman is put in a position to navigate the contours of manhood and what it means to be a man on his own.
While the film touches upon some of the ups and downs of his early life, it does not dive deep enough. More clarity is warranted given the director’s main objective as noted in the narration provided toward the beginning of the documentary. The film reveals a missed opportunity that ultimately gets lost in the theatrics in a rather predictable fashion.
The moments in the film where Rodman starts to become relatable at a remote level arise with the commentary on possible mental health issues, but Rodman doesn’t give credence to these notions. Those are the moments when the storyline tugs at the viewers heart strings.