Movie Review: Air
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have been friends since high school, which is why it’s not all that surprising to see them co-starring in Air. Having collaborated on several film projects and been nominated for an Oscar for co-writing Good Will Hunting, they’ve been around the block. Their latest movie is Air, an entertaining behind-the-scenes chronicle that realises the trepidation and innovation of a marketing team trying to win over Michael Jordan and capture more market share when it comes to selling Nike basketball shoes.
Essentially the Air Jordan story, Affleck has created a nostalgic and inspiring tale of untapped potential and self-belief. Being an actor himself, Affleck derives some wonderful performances from his cast. Air has a similar energy to Argo, working well enough in every department to serve as an all-rounder. It’s a good return to form after the filmmaker’s ambitious undertaking in Live by Night, where he tried to oversee almost everything from every possible angle.
Centred on Damon, who plays overweight sales executive Sonny Vaccaro whose job description is anyone’s guess (including his own) it’s actually an underdog story in spite of Nike’s current reputation as a global brand. Damon has a grounding effect, channeling his physical transformation into a run-of-the-mill sales executive with great instincts. He’s supported by some of Hollywood’s finest in Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker and Ben Affleck, taking on key supporting roles. Davis is a force, while Bateman, Tucker and Affleck find the funny in their rapport with Damon as the ringleader.
“…I believe Picasso also had a blue period.”
Air takes you back to 1984 without trying to smooth things over, incorporating purple Porsches and outrageous outfits. The ’80s feel is further entrenched by the radio hit soundtrack from the time, adding a toe-tapping warmth to a predominantly office-based drama. You could describe it as “The Social Network if it was a comedy”, leveraging the power of a turning point for basketball and professional athletes with a story that hinges on negotiation, whether across a boardroom or over the phone. On a similar tack to The Big Short, Air is more relatable, powered home by its talented ensemble.
An office-bound drama, it’s far from stuffy, sporting a colourful collective of characters reinforced by earnest performances from a stellar ensemble. The office banter ranges from hilarious to poignant, cutting through a cross-section of feelgood with a natural flair. While Michael Jordan is the prime athlete and kingpin at its core, this isn’t his biography and Air’s careful about not railroading the Sonny’s story with Jordan’s superstardom. Jordan’s presence is acknowledged but sidelined in favour of the tactical manoeuvres to outwit the competition and stage a complete turnaround for the flagging division.
Already a major success in other areas, this biographical drama has a few caveats for the development of the Nike brand that was on the cusp of true greatness, forging a new model for other sports brands to mimic. Grounded by Damon’s plodding yet affable performance and spiced by the host of oddballs that surround him, this all-rounder comedy drama is deftly handled, funny and compelling with a fly-on-the-wall focus on a guy instrumental in bringing about the next professional age for high profile sport stars.
The bottom line: Entertaining
