Editors note: This review was originally published March 19 after its world premiere at SXSW.
Did you know that Michael Jordan makes a staggering $400 million a year in passive income from the sale of Air Jordans? It’s an incredible story that takes us back to the 1980s and the iconic sneaker label Nike. This fascinating tale is the focus of Ben Affleck’s latest film, Air. With a star-studded cast including Affleck, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, and Julius Tennon, this movie delves into the world of Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), a risk-taking gambler who works for Nike CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) as their basketball division expert.
Vaccaro is on the lookout for promising basketball players and offers them lucrative shoe endorsement deals. His sights are set on an 18-year-old Michael Jordan, whom he believes is worth the full price of $250,000. However, Knight and VP of marketing Robert Strasser are hesitant to take the risk. Vaccaro attempts to secure a meeting with Jordan through his agent David Falk, but the young athlete is more interested in signing with Adidas.
Undeterred, Vaccaro takes matters into his own hands and travels to North Carolina to speak with Jordan’s parents, Delores and James. With meetings scheduled with Adidas and Converse, Vaccaro urges Jordan’s mother to reconsider Nike and warns her about the other companies. With pressure from the Nike CEO, Falk, and Strasser to close the deal or face losing his job, Vaccaro employs clever tactics to secure the client and keep his position.
In his fifth feature film, Ben Affleck exceeds expectations as both an actor and director. His talent shines through, especially when he takes on both roles simultaneously. It’s truly remarkable how he effortlessly balances all the elements of filmmaking. In Air, Affleck showcases stunning aerial shots that highlight the vastness of these company campuses. His visual style, characterized by desaturated scenes with a mix of green and blue, adds a touch of hope to the film.
Every member of the cast delivers an outstanding performance, making it difficult to single out just one. It’s a rare treat to witness such exceptional acting across the board. Alex Convery’s script provides the perfect foundation for this energy-filled film.
One thing becomes clear in this movie: Delores Jordan played a pivotal role in shaping her son’s career. Despite resistance from Nike, she negotiated a deal where Michael receives a global percentage from every Air Jordan shoe sold. She understood her son’s worth and believed that “A shoe is just a shoe…until my son steps into it.” The goal was to create footwear that reflected his persona and gave fans a sense of connection to the future NBA legend.
Watching Air and learning how the world’s most popular sneaker came to be, it’s astonishing to think that people now resort to theft, violence, and even death for a pair. This trajectory, starting innocently and turning customers into fanatical consumers, is mind-boggling. While it’s not Jordan’s responsibility, this story puts things into perspective. It highlights the significant impact that this deal with Nike has had on the sneaker and basketball industry, challenging the dominance of white men and advocating for athletes like Jordan.
Title: Air
Studio: Amazon Studios
Release date: April 5, 2023 (March 19 SXSW premiere)
Director: Ben Affleck
Screenwriter: Alex Convery
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, Viola Davis, Gustaf Skarsgård, Julius Tennon
Rating: PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 52 mins
