Matt Damon and Viola Davis in 'Air'

"Air" is being touted as THE sports drama film of the year; in much the same manner that Jerry Maguire was hyped up back in 1996. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film stars Matt Damon and Affleck, and a second bullet point going for the promotion of the film is how it reunites the two for the first time since 1997’s Good Will Hunting. Air is fundamentally the story behind the birth of Air Jordan in 1984, how it revolutionized Nike and the sales of sneakers and basketball shoes. As such, I’d venture to say that Air reminded me more of the 2011 film Moneyball, than Jerry Maguire. I say this because it’s more about the process, the selling of a concept and finding a new way to market a product, than it is about one person’s moral epiphany - as was the case with Jerry Maguire. One analogy I’d put forward to support this is that if Jerry Maguire was a pinball machine, the film would have Jerry as the pinball, and we watch him as he bounces off all the different elements in the film. Air on the other hand, would be a film about the people who made the first pinball machine, much like how Moneyball was about redesigning baseball teams based on statistics and quantitative data. Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) is the ‘hero’ of Air. The consummate salesman, he leads the race to recognize then still-in-college Michael Jordan as the future face of pro basketball, and convincing Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) to let him go after Michael at all costs. Mother Deloris Jordan (Viola Davis) is portrayed as the key to getting Michael to sign on Nike’s dotted line, and it’s the performances of these three that carry much of the film’s gravitas. But I say this while acknowledging that this is also an ensemble film, with actors such as Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, and Chris Messina (as Jordan’s manager) providing winning portrayals.
The screenplay of Alex Convery is a wonderful piece of writing, gifting us with a strong underdog story, and turning marketing powwow’s and discussions into high drama. Let’s bear in mind that this was 1984, and Nike was then seen primarily as a running shoe, with a weak basketball shoes division. Back then, it was Converse and Adidas that ruled the sneakers Retail world, with Nike playing catch-up. The musical score, the costume design and hairstyles, and the cinematography, all lend to the effective evoking of the period into the film, and how we seem to time travel back to 1984. The chemistry between Damon and Affleck is still palpable; and it’s great to have Damon in this underdog, dramatic role - a far cry from his Jason Bourne persona. Affleck as the hippie/cool dude Knight is also a great turn for this actor, coming after his Batman debacle and the poor choices of roles in his recent acting career. At heart, Air is an old school kind of film that spotlights determination, moxie, and spirit. Whether you agree or not, it wisely keeps Micheal Jordan out of the focus of the film. We all know the greatness Jordan eventually achieved, so I surmise that the people behind the film felt that giving Jordan a prominent role in the film would have been superfluous. I personally laud the choice, as it keeps the focus firmly on the characters behind the scenes, and turns this little known story inside-out. Whether you’re a fan of basketball or not, there’s much to enjoy in this film. It opens in cinemas here in the Philippines on April 19.