Movie review: ‘Air’ tells the compelling tale of Nike’s game-changing Air Jordan shoe

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
·3 min read
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Ben Affleck’s new film “Air” is about a lot of things, including basketball, the sneaker industry and the power of trusting your instincts, even if no one else does.

It’s not, however, about Michael Jordan – not really, anyway. The man considered by many to be the greatest athlete of all time is barely shown on screen in the affable sports drama, which follows the efforts of Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) to sign Jordan and create what would become the iconic Air Jordan sneakers. It’s more about Michael Jordan as a power of nature rather than a mere mortal.

Jordan himself was not involved in the film, but he did meet with Affleck and suggested casting Viola Davis as his mother, which proved to be a savvy move. The 57-year-old actress – who recently became the 18th person ever to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony – serves as the heart and soul of the film, which is otherwise mostly populated with broken weirdos.

Chief among them is Vaccaro, a man obsessed with basketball almost as much as he is with gambling. Nike chairman Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and co-founder Phil Knight (Affleck) have hired Vaccaro to find a few hot new up-and-comers in basketball and sign them to exclusive contracts. It’s a highly competitive market, with Nike trailing both Converse and Adidas.

Considering that much of the film takes place during meetings in offices, “Air” very well could have turned out to be a snooze. It’s not, though, thanks in large part to the uniformly excellent cast. In a seemingly effortless turn, Damon deftly moves from light comedy to utter sincerity, often in the same scene. Affleck channels his own inner Sad Ben Affleck as Knight, and nails the man’s gloomy quirks and goofy hair.

Davis, however, towers above them all. She plays Jordan’s mother with a quiet intensity and innate wisdom. When she talks, people listen. It’ll be a shame if she doesn’t get an Oscar nomination for her stunning work here.

“Air” is set in 1984 and Affleck never lets you forget it. He litters the film with artifacts of the era, from a Rubik’s Cube to the giant phones once found in cars. Affleck also goes overboard on pop music from the era, slipping in hits from Dire Straits, Night Ranger and Cyndi Lauper at every turn, to the point of exhaustion. That said, he does use Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” to delightful effect.

While some prior knowledge about Nike and Jordan won’t hurt, it’s not necessary. “Air” is about sports in the way “The Devil Wears Prada” is about fashion – they’re both well-made, likable films that will entertain a broad audience.

‘Air’

  • Directed by: Ben Affleck

  • Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis

  • Rated: R for language

  • Should you go? “Air” is a slam dunk. 3.5 stars

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