The Last Dance Review: Michael Jordan's Final Bulls Season
9/10 — The Last Dance (2020)
Pros
- Remarkable archive footage
- Candid interviews
- Tense, compelling storytelling
Cons
- Flatters its subject
Using footage shot during the 1997-98 NBA season, the series follows Michael Jordan and the Bulls through their final title run, interleaved with the history of the team. It was released by ESPN and Netflix.
What works
The access is incredible, the archive is vivid, and the interviews with Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman are candid and revealing. The series builds tension even if you know how it ends, and it captures the extraordinary drive of its subject.
Where it falters
Jordan had a hand in producing it, so it flatters him, and critics have noted that it glosses over some of his flaws.
Verdict
A gripping, entertaining sports documentary, even if it sometimes polishes the myth.
