MARCUS CHEONG finds ‘AIR’ a “triumphant experience” that’s about so much more than a shoe…
AIR (AU-M/UK-15/US-R)
In a Word: Tenacious
Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in AIR PICTURE: Ana Carballosa © Amazon Content Services LL
It is 1984 and we are about to witness the birth of a shoe. What nobody was prepared for was just how revolutionary this would be. Air takes us on a journey to demonstrate the tenacity, boldness and faith that it took to create the legendary Air Jordan.
“This is not a movie about Michael Jordan; in fact he barely is seen or heard. It is not a sports movie – there are only glimpses of games on blurry VHS tapes. Air focuses on the underdog characters that risked their careers, their reputation and millions of dollars on a belief that one man would be special. So essentially, it is a movie about faith and how far someone will go if they truly believe.”
Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) is a down on his luck talent scout for Nike. This is a time when Adidas and Converse dominated the market and Nike were at risk of shutting down the entire basketball division.
Sonny is convinced that the rookie Michael Jordan has the makings of a legend, however with a meagre budget and a flailing reputation he faces an almost impossible task to negotiate a deal with the up and coming star. Somehow he must win over a hostile agent, David Falk (Chris Messina), Jordan’s savvy mother Deloris (Viola Davis) and a reluctant Phil Knight (Ben Affleck, who also directs). In order to succeed, Sonny must break the rules of the corporate game and redefine the industry.
This is not a movie about Michael Jordan; in fact he barely is seen or heard. It is not a sports movie – there are only glimpses of games on blurry VHS tapes. Air focuses on the underdog characters that risked their careers, their reputation and millions of dollars on a belief that one man would be special. So essentially, it is a movie about faith and how far someone will go if they truly believe.
Damon, Affleck and the ensemble of stars that include Chris Tucker and Jason Bateman are all in top form bringing this deftly-written script to life. The characters have dimension, the stakes feel important and the humour that develops is genuine. This is top-tier dramatic film-making that places characters over spectacle. The result is a film that is both nostalgic and refreshing in this age of splashy CGI blockbusters. Initially slated for a streaming only release on Amazon, after it tested so positively it was given the full theatrical treatment.
Air is a triumphant experience as the viewer follows Sonny’s dedication to his cause. The Air Jordan, is a product of a man’s tenacity, a family’s support, a team’s creativity and a company’s willingness to risk so much on a single man. Air is not only about the birth of a shoe, it is about the start of a legend.
