Introduction
The Redeem Team is a documentary film about the story of the 2008 USA Olympic Basketball team, which one can view on the streaming service Netflix. The movie’s plot is the narrative focusing on uniting the greatest players to restore the country’s reputation after extended disappointments. Consequently, an exciting description of one of the most critical moments in American sports is a crucial aspect that runs through the film. The Redeem Team is one of the brightest and most memorable basketball-themed films in which perseverance, willpower, and hard work lead to victory.
The Rhetorical Appeals
The Redeem Team is a modern documentary for basketball fans, explicitly appealing to various rhetorical techniques, tactics, and strategies to evoke a response from the audience. The ethos elements are particularly reflected in the comments of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the late Kobe Bryant as trustworthy figures. Dwyane Wade says: “We have a lot of things we needed to show the world, and it wasn’t just basketball” (Weinbach, 2022). However, it is essential to emphasize that the peculiarity of this rhetorical appeal lies in the sportspeople’s speeches based on real experiences and events. Accordingly, pathos is most often found in repeated phrases regarding the concepts of revenge, teamwork, a spirit of rivalry, leadership, superiority, and much more. In this case, national and cultural phenomena are what the authors pay special attention to, “just because we’re Americans, we’re better” (Weinbach, 2022). In other words, this technique makes one proud of the USA and its heroes who have entered sports history. Separately, the logical logo in the film should be highlighted, appearing in the factual data about the difficult struggle of basketball players for the award and a well-deserved victory at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
According to the student, these techniques are being used in The Redeem Team for the most part for persuasion. In a way, “the United States is the land of second chances” is a “slogan” of the film, embodying the essence of the message about the resilience, courage, and endurance of the American people. Indeed, using these methods is an effective move that causes positive emotions in a viewer and inspires the idea that one should never give up and that even difficult situations can be solved. Most likely, these appeals can be challenged based on their certain generality and vagueness; they can be applied in sports and other cases where there is a competitive component.
Arguments and Claims
The Redeem Team generally sends arguments based on the individual experience and vision of celebrities and confidants. Thus, the documentary is aimed at basketball fans and sports in particular, where they will have the opportunity to see those who come close to the main characters of this team. This laid-back documentary values more “intimacy” than entertainment approaches. It is noteworthy that The Redeem Team is more like a movie “in the locker room” than an exciting narrative that will surely appeal to all basketball fans. The claims are clear and understandable, and the language is simple, concise, and, most importantly, accessible to a diverse audience. Convincing journalism and skillful editing make it possible for viewers to “relive” the same moments that the athletes went through. Basically, this documentary relies on subjectivity. A documentary film, regardless of the presence or absence of artistic techniques and means of expression, is always a subjective view of reality. He is distinguished by the author’s position in the interpretation of reality. On the other hand, its peculiarity is relevance, persuasiveness, and attention to detail.
The Reliability of the Sources
One should emphasize that the information and evidence presented are mainly based on interviews with the “three main characters.” Undoubtedly, the questions were answered by people who directly caught the particular moment in history and could explain their position concerning it clearly. Nonetheless, one must understand that the details extracted from the interview may be insufficient, as some interviewers and interviewees may miss several vital aspects. In addition, interviewers could miss important information about candidates and ask questions, focusing on factors that are not significant for success in the work. Furthermore, excessive US molasses, the relatively typical presentation of the idea, and the weighted narrative are the moments at which questions may arise. As a rule, potential bias in the film lies in the adjustment of facts to the filmmakers’ theories. Believing in their rightness, any person will try to find confirmation of their idea, not its refutation, and in the end, people begin to see only what makes their view accurate.
Conclusion
Summarizing the above, one must remark that The Redeem Team is an interesting and exciting documentary movie that represents the courage and perseverance of the USA men’s basketball team at the Olympic Games with the aim of “redemption.” Previously unpublished footage from the team’s journey in 2008 and interviews with players include many rhetorical techniques to create a particular atmosphere and effect based on self-belief and self-strength. The arguments are mainly based on the experience and perception of the players and are aimed at a targeted audience as sports and basketball fans. It should be assumed that the information presented to the viewer is trustworthy and reliable but not objective in every sense.
Reference
Weinbach, J. (2022). The redeem team [Film]. The Olympic Channel.