A Slam Dunk Sports Film Captures Greatness

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon deliver their best film since the Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting. Air tells the incredible true story of Nike’s fateful decision to put their entire basketball operation on the shoulders of a talented young athlete. Michael Jordan, who’s never seen, became the greatest basketball player of all time. His eponymous shoe brand dominating athletic sportswear for decades. But in 1984, he was just another promising rookie in a crowded NBA Draft.

Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) returns exasperated to Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The basketball talent scout didn’t agree with the company’s direction. Nike had achieved great success in the running shoes market. They were flailing against behemoths Adidas and Converse to secure basketball stars. The sales numbers were grim. Nike CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) was under considerable pressure to shut down the basketball business and terminate the entire department.

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A Contentious Meeting

Amazon Studios

Marketing executives Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker) had a plan to spread their meager in comparison budget across multiple prospective players. Sonny scoffs at the idea during a contentious meeting. They were never going to compete with heavyweight basketball stars like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Later that night, Sonny changes everyone’s fortunes after reviewing tape of the 1982 Georgetown vs. North Carolina NCAA National Championship. Michael Jordan wins the game in a classic last second buzzer beater.

Sonny races back to the office with a bold strategy. Jordan was going to transform the sport — they should put their eggs in his basket. Phil thinks he’s crazy; Rob and Howard agree. They didn’t have a chance. Jordan will undoubtedly sign with Adidas or Converse, so Sonny reaches out to Jordan’s ruthless agent, David Falk (Chris Messina). Falk laughs at and berates him, but does reveal a critical piece of information: Michael’s mother, Deloris Jordan (Viola Davis), makes every decision. So Sonny does the unthinkable and flies to North Carolina, appealing to her directly, thus incurring Falk’s formidable wrath and putting Nike’s leadership in a cutthroat battle to sign a promising but unproven young man.

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The outcome is never in question, of course, as audiences (especially those sporting Air Jordan sneakers) may know their history. Nonetheless, screenwriter Alex Convery, sublime in his feature debut, captures the thrilling unknowns of a pivotal point in time. Sonny’s unwavering belief had dire consequences. He committed to a course of action that threatened Nike and its employees, but Sonny wasn’t excoriated or fired for such a brash move. Initial fury gives way to unconditional support; Nike was born from progressive thinking, after all. They had faith in Sonny and trusted his instincts. The ensemble scenes of the Nike team coming together are absolutely enthralling.

Air Is an Early Awards Contender

Affleck’s brilliant as a director and co-star. Air takes you back to the vibrant ’80s with fantastic nostalgia. The rocking soundtrack, settings, and period costumes engulf you in a bygone era. Affleck playfully mocks Phil Knight’s Buddhist sayings and fashion sense. I laughed out loud at his springy perm and colorful jogging outfits. He and Damon anchor the film with a bedrock relationship that’s evident in every collaboration. They know how to get the best from each other. Air is a slam dunk and early awards contender across the board.

Air is a production of Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, Artists Equity, and Mandalay Pictures. It will have a theatrical release on April 5th from Amazon Studios, ahead of its streaming release on Prime Video.

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