Does the current generation recognize the legendary athlete Michael Jordan? The name might be more familiar in the context of Nike shoes – Air Jordan. “Air” in this case doesn’t refer to the athlete but rather to the brand of shoes. “Air” is a sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck, whose last directorial venture was the mediocre crime drama “Live By Night” (2016). This film also features his friend Matt Damon, along with a star-studded cast including Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Viola Davis, Chris Messina, and Marlon Wayans. While there have been many dramas about cooperative competition, this film raises questions about one of the most iconic types of shoes in human history and its stars. What can this film offer?
“But a shoe is just a shoe.”
In 1984, Nike was on the verge of bankruptcy because it had a small market share compared to big brands like Adidas, Puma, and Converse. Nike, primarily known for jogging shoes, was attempting to expand its market to basketball through the NBA basketball icon, Michael Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), a corporate talent scouting consultant, makes a breakthrough by attempting to recruit the talented young basketball player, Michael Jordan. Despite resistance from everyone in the company, including the CEO, Phil Knight (Affleck), and marketing chief Rob Strasser (Bateman), Sonny persists in believing in the athlete’s value, even meeting personally with the basketball player’s mother (Davis). Nike finally gets the chance, but they are still overshadowed by two giant companies, Adidas and Converse.
The opening montage sets the 1980s vibe with dynamic visuals and stomping music of the era. A series of images featuring cultural icons from films, television series, music, sports, famous figures, politics, video games, fashion, and break dancing successfully builds the mood of the era. As the story unfolds, this vibe is maintained through the sets and properties, accompanied by popular songs and music from the 1980s. Viewers who experienced this era will undoubtedly feel an extraordinary nostalgic sensation.
Supported by the performances of the senior actors and actresses, what more can we expect? Additionally, the solid and intense script supports the story without inducing boredom. This narrative bears some resemblance to the copyright battle in the recently released “Tetris.” We already know the result; the shoes’ popularity has answered everything. However, behind this success lies a process and painstaking effort from the initiators. There is, of course, some straightforward dramatization, but the spirit and enthusiasm shine through in the brilliant performances of the cast. Damon, Affleck, Bateman, and Davis played at their level, but Tucker, Messina, and Maher stole the show.
“Air” is a unique sports drama enchantingly packaged through the cast with all the vibes of the 1980s. Yes, ultimately, all of this is about money and competition for big-class cooperatives. However, Sonny’s stirring speech at the presentation changes everything. Beyond the billions of dollars in profit for the company and the athlete, millions of “little” Jordans have the same dream and hope to be like their idol. The back credits explain only a part of this mega star’s wealth and abundant assets. The athlete and his family have set a good example. “Air” is a quality drama likely to compete in prestigious film festivals next year, at least at the Golden Globes.
