Let’s be frank. It’s difficult to get pumped about a movie that focuses on one of the world’s largest corporations. Too many companies pat themselves on the back for the “good” they do. However, with Air, we are taken back to a time when Nike was seen as little more than a jogging brand. Their basketball division was failing and on the verge of collapse. What Air does is remove the legacy of this company and takes us back to a time when the people involved walked a fine line of near unemployment.
This mostly true story follows Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), an overworked, underutilized scout that seeks out talent to be represented by a shoe brand that was easily 4th in market share. Nike spent money on NBA rookies, but almost always lost money on their investments. Sonny refused to keep losing money and rallied his coworkers and CEO to seek after the third draft pick in 1984, Michael Jordan. He saw the incredible talent and game-changing potential that Jordan brought to the court and thus, Vaccaro put his (and many others’) job on the line to endorse him. Michael Jordan was also being courted by the two largest shoe manufacturers at that time, Converse and Adidas. These companies had the money and clout to win over any rookie.
Truly, this is a underdog sports story. Not about the player, because Michael Jordan is a legend and people fought for him, but of these aspiring corporate entrepreneurs that had a hunger to be better.
Air marks Ben Affleck’s first return to directing since 2016. He doesn’t have a perfect record; this makes him 4 for 5, with Live by Night being the only stumble. While the material he’s working with is more light and fluffy than he’s used to, he captures it all incredibly well. For being a movie that is little more than meetings that are leading to a really important business meeting, he makes it all feel engaging.
Affleck does appear as Nike CEO Phil Knight in a really solid role. Though, there’s not any one weak point among the actors/real life personas. Matt Damon has long been putting in some solid character work and his performance as Sonny creates someone you can relate to and get behind. He is made fun of for being pudgy and too old for a sports brand, but that doesn’t deter him from pursuing what he knows in his heart is right. Viola Davis plays Michael’s mom, Deloris. Even with limited screen time, the impact she has on Sonny and the movie itself brings the pressure and necessary heart. Jason Bateman plays Rob Strasser, a marketing wiz that often has to bring Sonny back to Earth. He is given one of the better monologues of the movie.
This is a movie that excels, not only with its inspiration, but for the dialogue. Many would say this is Aaron Sorkin-esque. I’d agree to a point. These characters feel more real and less knowingly intelligent. They make mistakes. They argue even when their livelihoods are at stake. What first time writer, Alex Convery, has done is incredibly impressive. He’s shown us a window in time, that would essentially be an ESPN 30 for 30 special, but has given great actors a script that only benefits them and the plot.
There’s very little I didn’t enjoy in Air. It’s very middle of the road as far as some filmmaking elements go, with a big emphasis on 80s music and fashion. There’s also not a lot of memorable shots. Instead, it sacrifices beauty for cold, retro feeling offices of a struggling company. I can see this not appealing to those who don’t care for sports movies, basketball, or dialogue-heavy experiences. Though, even these people should give it a watch.
Air is the kind of mid-budget movie that is needed these days. I’m relieved it didn’t go straight to streaming, where it would have quickly been forgotten. This is a showcase in acting and writing, with a heavy emphasis on being the underdog even if you aren’t playing sports. There’s a game being played by these characters and it’s an effortless thrill watching it play out. Sure, it’s weird to root for a mega-corporation, but it’s the talent and legacy of Michael Jordan, boosted by the people that believed in him, that changed the world of marketing and basketball forever. B+
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