The Aisle Seat’s ‘Home Edition’ series continues with a look at ESPN’s much anticipated documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, ‘The Last Dance’, currently streaming its first few episodes in Canada on Netflix.
Mere hours out of the gate, it’s already been branded one of the best sports documentaries of all time – and it’s easy to see why.
‘The Last Dance’ – a fascinating journey following the legendary 1997-98 Chicago Bulls and their chase for a final title before the band breaks up – not only cracks open the locker room door of quite possibly the greatest team ever assembled, it’s like cracking open a time capsule at the same time. Put it all together, and it’s exactly the fix that sports fans, hungry for ANY crumb of athletic-flavored entertainment, need at this very moment.
Here’s the brief backstory; in 1997, Adam Silver – the current NBA commissioner – was the head of NBA entertainment. He had approached Michael Jordan, the sport’s biggest star, about the possibility of a camera crew following the team to chronicle their season. And a season full of drama it likely would be; coming off their fifth championship, Bulls general manager Jerry Krause informed Phil Jackson that, win or lose, it would be the head coach’s final year in Chicago. Jordan stated he wouldn’t play for any other coach. It was the team’s last hurrah. Thus, ‘The Last Dance’ takes its name from what Jackson actually branded on the front of the playbook heading into the ’97-98 season.
What the film crew captured has been sitting in a vault for 20 years. Which….again…only adds to the awe and wonder of what has been so brilliantly assembled.
Through the first two episodes…and I don’t see this changing up as the 10-part series progresses…the majority of ‘The Last Dance’ is the Jordan show, which is only right. He was the often controversial, sometimes mysterious, but undeniable superstar that transcended basketball. A batch of recent interviews accompanies the sea of footage, and Jordan’s supporting cast, including the off-the-wall rebound king known as Dennis Rodman, get a lot of screen time as well. (Even a guy by the name of Barrack Obama has some insight into the era, and I find it interesting that he’s billed as “former Chicago resident”). Through it all, the Bulls and friends are pretty darn open about the warts beneath the surface of the dynasty. In short, not a lot is left uncovered, it sure ain’t sugar coated and – so far, anyway – nobody is let off the hook here.
Is ten hours too much? Not for this sports fan. I, for one, can’t wait until the next chapter drops.
