Air

r96sk 5/18/2023 12:12:18 AM 8.4

Slightly forced 1980s aesthetic/nostalgia trip aside, <em>'Air'</em> is quality! The 80s was before my time, so I guess I'm not best placed to talk about it, but the constant shots of 80s things with 80s music with extremely 80s enviroments did get a tiny bit tiresome to me. I recall people saying similar-ish with <em>'Stranger Things'</em> season 3, though I found the mix of it there to more befitting. I'm nit-picking, I know, but it just was super noticeable to me here. Anyway, enough of that unimportant stuff. The film is great. The whole cast do terrific work, particularly Matt Damon, Viola Davis (the phone call scene between those two is excellent), Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck. I'd say the secondary portion of the almost 2hrs is the stronger, prior to that I was intrigued but not invested... by the end I was both. It's a predictable story, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The decision to practically not have a Michael Jordan character in a movie about Michael Jordan is an interesting one. It feels a tad awkward when he is in a scene and they intentionally 'hide' him. I get why, and it mostly works, but it does feel dorky at a point or two. Overall, very good. To be honest, ignore my above nit-picks - it's most definitely worthy of a watch.

tmdb51616167 9/7/2024 5:57:21 PM 8.4

#AirMovieReview #MichaelJordan #ViolaDavis We initially hesitated to watch this film due to the lack of positive buzz surrounding it, leaving it at the bottom of our watchlist for some time. However, when we finally made it to the theater to see it, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found. "Air" turned out to be a fantastic movie that was well worth our time. I found myself completely engrossed in the story from start to finish. I appreciated how the film focused on Michael Jordan as a brand rather than just a person, allowing the concept of the movie to shine through. The film's humor, cleverness, and overall storyline were impressive, and Viola Davis delivered a stellar performance as a mother. I highly recommend this movie, and if you missed it in theaters, be sure to catch it on a streaming platform.

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots 4/23/2023 6:00:02 AM 8.4

“Air” is a sports marketing drama that delivers satisfying entertainment with a feel-good, universal appeal. Never would I have guessed that a film about business deals and shoe marketing would be so engaging, but this true story about the game-changing partnership in 1984 between an NBA rookie named Michael Jordan and the athletic apparel company Nike is gratifying on all levels. You don’t have to be a basketball fan or even know anything about Jordan to enjoy this film. It’s a biopic all right – but of the men behind the Air Jordan sneaker line, not the superstar athlete. Directed by Ben Affleck (who also co-stars), the film explores the history of how the legendary Air Jordan sneaker line was birthed into existence, telling the story of the high-stakes business gamble that had the potential to make or break Nike. When scout and basketball division lead Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) sets his sights on the talented UNC rookie (who has recently been drafted by the Chicago Bulls) to be the athlete that Nike needs to boost their shoe line, he is met with resistance from his team of reluctant colleagues. They’re skeptical at first, but eventually find Sonny’s passion to be contagious and hop on board. Much of the narrative is focused on the behind-the-scenes company men, discussions about money, and valid concerns about taking a huge risk on Sonny’s gut feeling that this kid has the potential to become an international sports superstar. There’s a lot shown about the creativity process, brainstorming sessions, and outside-the-box marketing that helped Nike sell their shoes to an up-and-coming NBA player. Although it may sound like it, this isn’t a dry business story, but an enjoyable film filled with casual charm. Affleck includes a who’s who of Nike in the 80s, from Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), Nike’s Creative Director and the man who designed the Air Jordan sneaker (and also had the brilliant idea to put Jordan’s silhouette on the product line), Howard White (Chris Tucker), who influenced the basketball player to sign with the company, Marketing Director Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), and Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Affleck), who credits the Air Jordan as the product that saved his company. A secondary plot line involves Sonny’s efforts to convince Jordan’s bulldog agent David Falk (Chris Messina) and family, in particular his smart and savvy mother Deloris (Viola Davis), to sign with Nike over the more popular competing brands Converse and Adidas. Discussions between Sonny and Deloris deliver the film’s most powerful scenes, especially when you see a tenacious mother who knows her son’s worth and has no problem holding her own in a room full of corporate suits. It’s unusual to find a film that keeps the audience invested in the story from both sides, and I found myself hoping for Sonny to land a great contract but also for Deloris to get the best deal possible for her son and family. To reveal more about the story would constitute major spoilers, especially if you are unfamiliar with the history of the shoe, but Affleck’s storytelling is so engaging that it will keep you emotionally invested even if you know the eventual outcome. As a director, Affleck has an enviable, natural flair for telling true stories. His casual style and instincts are on full display here. The film is an example of one of those instances that are few and far between, where the subject matter is the perfect match for the director. This is a story that obviously is close to Affleck’s heart, and it’s reflected throughout the film. “Air” is a well-made movie about the American Dream from two different sides of the equation. There aren’t many missteps here, and everything from the direction, lively screenplay (written by Alex Convery), and warm performances all flow together in perfect harmony. **By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS / WWW.SCREENZEALOTS.COM**