Air is an enthusiastic victory for sports cinema that I couldn’t stop smiling during. Ben Affleck's direction is nothing but net, and the screenplay by first time writer Alex Convery is filled with spark and energy. The A-list cast delivers lively, funny, and passionate performances, making this movie as entertaining and fast-paced as an NBA Finals game headed for overtime. Air captures a moment in culture that led to a revolution in sports, business, and fashion. Although it focuses on Nike and Michael Jordan, the film is nonetheless a crowd-pleasing underdog story reminiscent of Jerry Maguire.

Matt Damon delivers a near career high leading performance as Sonny Vaccaro, a high-stakes gambler and sports marketing executive who was crucial to making Jordan’s modern-day icon status. Damon is authentic and versatile, showcasing his talent as an actor. The film explores the dilemma faced by Sonny and the rest of the Nike team as they debate whether to play it safe or go all-in on a gifted but untested young MJ. While we know how the story ends, the film is tense and taut as Sonny races to sink a buzzerbeater sales pitch to overtake Converse and Adidas. 

Affleck is also an acting force of nature, capturing Phil Knight's unique blend of laid-back guru and take-no-prisoners business awareness. In Air, he continues his current trend of scene-stealing (some examples being his roles in The Last Duel and The Tender Bar). To complete the fab four of the Nike sales pitch team courting Jordan, Jason Bateman and Chris Tucker are both standouts given moments to truly shine in the spotlight. The two both deliver some of the best laughs in the movie with their impeccable comedic timing in scenes alongside Damon. Like a true sixth man candidate, Marlon Wayans gets to showcase a more dramatic side to his acting skills in a limited but pivotal cameo role. Last but certainly not least, you of course can’t get MJ on your side without his mother’s approval, played beautifully by Viola Davis. Davis delivers a regal and down-to-earth awards-worthy performance and adds some much needed humanity into this corporate story. 

Affleck has expertly paced the movie in the director’s chair, creating tension when needed and allowing the story to breathe with comedy in others. One sequence involving a phone call where Sonny and Chris Messina’s feisty take on David Falk dime drop one liners back and forth is a personal highlight of the film to me. Affleck has wisely chosen not to show Michael Jordan as a character in the story, except for brief glimpses of a stand-in, Damian Young. This allows for the character to feel larger than life and showcase that this deal is truly something special and monumental for all involved. There are other interesting directorial decisions that I really appreciated. For instance, while some found the opening credits montage of 80s pop culture to be overdone, I thought that it provided the perfect context for the world Affleck set out to recreate. This is further exemplified by the great musical supervision enlisted for the film. So many perfectly placed needle drops kept me invested and engrossed into the tone and mood of 1984.

Air is a fantastic film that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. As for its Oscar chances… Amazon does not have much on its upcoming slate aside from Oscar winner Emerald Fennell’s follow-up feature Saltburn, so Air could make it rain in a few different categories in awards season following this early wave of passion. Its most likely nomination is Original Screenplay, which most critics (including myself) have labeled as the highlight of the film. Some more awards could crossover into the acting races for Damon and Davis. Finally, if things go very well for the sports drama, it could bank shot its way into Best Picture. Regardless, even if it winds up being neglected on Oscar nominations morning, Air was a joyous experience that I would highly recommend. 

9/10