Air retells the story of the endorsement deal that changed fashion and sports when Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) worked within the running shoe athletic company Nike to put all their chips on the table in pursuit of incoming NBA rookie Michael Jordan to lead their fledgling basketball shoe division. Vaccaro has to convince the company’s founder and CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) to give him the funding and go ahead to convince Jordan and his parents Doloris and James (Viola Davis and Julius Tennon) to sign with the company. Vaccaro moves alongside co-workers like Howard White (Chris Tucker) and Rob Strasser as they struggle to get the deal done.
Air is in part a story of faith. Not in the religious sense, but faith in one’s self, abilities, and sense of what is possible. As the saying goes, you can’t steal second base while keeping your foot on first base; taking chances is a necessity in order to achieve great things. The film makes this connection from its very first frame as we see Sonny indulging his gambling habit before heading to Nike’s headquarters in Oregon. Sonny is predisposed to taking big swings and risks in hopes of hitting big and this manifests itself in his professional life with his decision to pursue Michael Jordan against all odds. Similarly, Michael and his mother Deloris decide to take a chance on a fledgling basketball shoe division because of their belief in Michael and his otherworldly athletic abilities. The Jordans could have taken more money upfront, along with Michael’s dream car, to become a part of already established powerhouse shoe companies, but their belief in Michael’s potential for greatness inspired them to go out on a limb and partner with an upstart for the potential to make more lucrative gains over the long-term.
Air’s running theme of betting on oneself is the central aspect of the film’s charm and what will connect it to audiences. Watching the film’s characters interact with each other and debate the merits of embarking down new, unknown paths without knowing the fate that awaits them, their dogged belief in the possible is sure to inspire many viewers as the uncertainty Sonny, Phil, Rob, and Howard face mirrors our own uncertain times.
This film is also well directed as Affleck makes bold, creative choices that all pan out well. The most glaring is addressing the always tough decision of how to portray a highly recognizable figure on film. Casting a legendary person whose look everyone is familiar with can be an arduous task that has the potential to complete take an audience out of the film and the decision in Air to not cast an actor to put a face to Michael Jordan and instead only show him from behind, with barely any speaking lines avoided the thorny situation in a way that works for the film. It’s done in a way that doesn’t distract from what is seen onscreen but doesn’t come across as cheap. Affleck also shoots the film and includes a soundtrack of 80s hits in a way that transports you back to the time period authentically. Though the film is shot digitally, it has the look of a 1980s era film camera, a testament to the artistry of Affleck and director of photography Robert Richardson. The film’s production design complements the style used to shoot the film perfectly as the wardrobe and set pieces are true to form for 1984.
Air features a talented ensemble with a director in Ben Affleck at the helm that executes the vision of the film with technical precision. Matt Damon and Viola Davis’ portrayals of Sonny Vaccaro and Deloris Jordan provide the spark of the film’s inspirational and motivational tale of self-belief. The chemistry between the two as well as supporting actors Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, and Chris Tucker make the film an enjoyable watch.
Image: Amazon Studios
