REVIEW | Ben Affleck reaches new directorial heights with Air

Sonny Vaccaro and Nike pursue basketball rookie Michael Jordan, creating a partnership that revolutionises the world of sports and contemporary culture.

When Michael Jordan signed with Nike in 1984, it was a business move that would change the relationship between athlete and brand forever. Despite Michael Jordan retiring from basketball in the early 2000s, his cultural impact is still palpable, not just in the ubiquitous Air Jordan shoes. His mark on entertainment can be seen in movies and shows like Netflix's The Last Dance, the Space Jam sequel (which does not feature him but wouldn't exist without him) and now the Ben Affleck-directed Air (2023). Affleck's film focuses explicitly on how Nike managed to sign the basketball legend to their company.

But Air is not about Michael Jordan; you never even see his character's face, just his mysterious looming figure, making him really feel larger than life. Instead, Air focuses on Sonny Vaccaro, who works at Nike's basketball division and must find new signees for the company. Sonny has an unrivalled passion for basketball and loves to take risks, illustrated by his tendency to gamble. So, he decides to take one big risk by using his division's whole budget to sign one rookie, Michael Jordan. In 1984, Nike was a bit of an underdog compared to their two major competitors, Adidas and Converse. Both companies also wanted Jordan. Sonny, too, is an underdog in this story because almost no one trusts his "feeling" about Jordan, but he gradually convinces others at the company that the risk will pay off.

Air is a cinematic treat, and the people at Amazon Studios are aware of that. The film was supposed to go straight to streaming, but initial reactions were positive enough to warrant a theatrical release. The film's main source of enjoyment can be attributed to its strong writing and equally strong performances, which both deliver loads of emotionally compelling and humorous moments. Most of the characters, especially Howard White (Chris Tucker), are fast talkers with a lot to say and can be very funny. The dialogue hooks you throughout the film, making it just as fun to listen to as to watch. Viola Davis also delivers a notable performance as Michael Jordan's mother. She makes the character feel genuinely imposing and authoritative, making her seem as important as the CEOs and executives in the film. The business of signing athletes is made incredibly interesting. When characters talk about fine details concerning the company's deals, it feels like they are in these verbal sparring matches that are really fun to watch.

Air's ending is mostly satisfactory but lacks a hard punch that a film like this needs. One would like to see how Jordan's deal with Nike impacts the world and the characters, but that information is given through text at the end of the film. Everything after Jordan's agreement to sign with Nike is given a 'the rest is history' treatment.

The film does a great job of showing how slim Nike's chances are of signing MJ, so the immense challenges that Sonny faces are very clear to the audience. When definite progress is made in his quest, it feels earned and cathartic. Affleck's direction is quite reserved but shows great clarity in vision. The use of close-ups and loose camera work makes the film feel intimate and immersive. This is his best film yet, rivalling the Best Picture-winning Argo.

Air does, however, heap on the 1980's nostalgia to a point where it is unintentionally comical. Jason Bateman's character makes so many pop culture references that it makes you want to yell, 'We get it, we're in the' 80s!'. This is most likely done so that the film can clarify who its target audience is. The soundtrack feels like a best of the 80's compilation, but there are times when the musical cues are effective, especially in the intro, where they pair a montage of memorable 80s moments with Dire Straits' Money for Nothing (which is still a cliché song choice). The film also likes to use the audience's retrospective knowledge to poke fun at some of the character's ignorance. When someone doubts Jordan's ability or Nike's potential, we can laugh at them for being so short-minded. Though these moments are cute and tongue-in-cheek, they do take you out of the film momentarily.

Air's nearly two-hour runtime really flies by because of its air-tight pacing. It might be a glorified advertisement for Nike and Air Jordans, but it is a well-made one. The film ensures that the audience knows how awesome Nike is, and if you feel like buying a pair of their sneakers after viewing, that's just the movie doing its job.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: