The new film AIR from the director and actor Ben Affleck (Argo) tells the tale of how the greatest basketball player of all time, the sneaker, and the Nike organization came together. As a result, this is one of those films where the outcome is never in doubt. It does, however, construct a compelling plot about a group of individuals working toward a shared objective, even if they disagree on how to get there. It hits some familiar beats while avoiding more troubling themes, making it an excellent popcorn film for basketball fans and sneakerheads. Continue reading the Air Movie Review And Summary to learn more about the film.
Summary
The new film AIR was released in theaters nationwide last month. A-list actors Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman star in the movies123. The underdog narrative takes place in 1984 and explains how Nike signed Michael Jordan to one of the most remarkable shoe deals in industry history despite having only a 17% market share in the basketball shoe industry.
Review
Plot
Air, Ben Affleck’s fifth film as director, tells the story of Nike’s game-changing brand contract with basketball sensation Michael Jordan.
The story takes us back to the 1980s when Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) took a huge risk by negotiating a never-before-seen agreement for then-rookie athlete Michael Jordan. It was a big risk at the time. This offer to Jordan would not only cost Nike a lot of money (the company’s basketball division was struggling at the time), but it was also far from a sure thing, with shoe titans like Adidas and Converse also pursuing the emerging star with their own deals. Determined and looking ahead, Vaccaro chose to go all in on this dangerous strategy, which meant convincing his colleagues, including Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Affleck). Vaccarro realized that one person, in particular, would have a big say in whether or not this basketballer signed: Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan, played by a fantastic Viola Davis.
Performance
The performance in this film was outstanding. Obviously, when you’re dealing with a man like Ben Affleck, you can expect superb acting. It’s simply professionalism at its best, and it makes you appreciate the film’s cinematography. Of course, Matt Damon and Jason Bateman were excellent, but I believe Chris Tucker, who played Howard White, was one of the film’s best “sleeper” actors.
Script
Honestly, there isn’t much We would change about this film. The film is nearly two hours long, and it was one of the few instances when it felt like half that. If We had to compare it to another film, it reminded me of The Founder (the tale of McDonald’s), but this one is even more pleasant to watch if you’re a sports fan, especially if you’re a Michael Jackson fan. It’s the film that makes you want to get up and take a chance.
Most of the criticism I’ve received thus far has been about wanting to see more of MJ. Other than a quick phone call, we only see headshots and no genuine dialogue from him. Going into the film, I was disappointed but realized that incorporating MJ wouldn’t add much to the story. The filmmakers realized it would detract from the true tale of how brilliant people who could strike the deal were.
The soundtrack was one of my favorite aspects of this film. There will be a lot of 80s tunes, which will not only add to the retro mood of the picture but will also have you bobbing your legs in the theater.
Production
The film’s budget was projected to be between $70-90 million. Ben Affleck, who has played and directed in Oscar-winning films such as Good Will Hunting, Argo, and The Town, directs the film. The AIR filming took place in Los Angeles, California.
Finally, Air is a good film. Sure, the narrative structure has been seen before, but the writing, acting, and Affleck’s assured direction combine in a gratifying, feel-good film.
