'AIR' Review: Affleck And Amazon Swing Big For A “Shoe Biopic” | SXSW

Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. Courtesy of Amazon Studios.

30 years after premiering Dazed and Confused at the festival, Ben Affleck returned to Austin and SXSW to premiere AIR, his latest film, which is more of an origin story than a biopic but is nonetheless about a shoe. The film, which takes place in the mid-80s, focuses on Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), Nike’s basketball talent recruiter and the most important puzzle piece in the Nike-Jordan deal, the film’s ultimate plot point. We follow Vaccaro through his discovery of Jordan and the subsequent (difficult) process of signing one of the nation’s top talents to a sneaker contract while every other major shoe brand tries to do the same thing. AIR marks Affleck’s return to directing after Best Picture winner Argo and the *slightly* lesser-known Live by Night. Affleck’s direction, in this case, is solid, with clear stylistic flare and vision throughout the film, coupled strongly with brisk editing that allows for the —slightly under two-hour— runtime to fly past quicker than anticipated.

(L-R) Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in AIR. Courtesy of Amazon Studios.

Though the promise of an Affleck/Damon on-screen reunion is all it takes to get me to watch a movie, AIR boasts a cast strong enough to get most casual viewers into theaters. While everyone has their own time to shine, the clear standouts are Matt Damon and Viola Davis. Damon uses the likable nature of his character to build a certain drive and commitment that forces viewers to rally behind him when necessary. Davis, who plays Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris (at the direct request of Jordan himself), taps into the maternal nature of the character to create a sense of closeness and belief in the way she delivers her lines, reminding us of the people that look out for and believe in us, even if the dialogue feels heavily scripted in hopes of applause. However, there are moments when everyone gets to shine as an ensemble, riffing off of each other and bringing some of the best comedic moments throughout the film, particularly from Chris Tucker (in his return to the big screen) and from Ben Affleck, whose performance as eccentric Nike CEO Phil Knight is one to watch if you need a good laugh.

When watching AIR, one of the clearest things about the film is its admiration and respect for its topic and the people it utilizes. Alex Convery’s script makes good use of the true events of this story though he condenses (and slightly fictionalizes them for the purpose of a smoother film) the exact details to end up with an easy-to-follow story that captures and cultivates the truth of the icon and idea that Michael Jordan has evolved into while clearly putting the focus on the MacGuffin of this film. The issue with doing this is it narrows the audience for this film, making it less accessible for younger generations who aren’t familiar with the worlds of basketball and/or sneakers or Michael Jordan as a whole. That said, what makes AIR harder to get behind for younger viewers is exactly what propels it toward older viewers who grew up with this iconography and the culture surrounding it.

(L-R) Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in AIR. Courtesy of Amazon Studios.

To make something clear, while people have been speculating upon potential Oscar buzz for AIR, I’d like to make it clear that this isn’t the case fully, and if AIR were the Best Picture frontrunner this year, I’d be truly disappointed. I mean this with no disrespect toward AIR but to highlight my anticipation for the films releasing throughout the rest of the year and how AIR just isn’t an “Oscar movie.” That’s not to say that it doesn’t feature impressive performances, strong direction, and sharp editing, but to say to not get your hopes up for any awards buzz surrounding what’ll likely be one of the year’s earliest big hits.

If you’re looking for a strong hit of stylized nostalgia and overall warmth in a film that can take you back to your childhood or past with beloved characters and actors, AIR is certainly for you and will be a worthwhile watch.

AIR is set to arrive in theaters on April 5.