Film Review: AIR (2023): Matt Damon Shoots and Scores in Ben Affleck’s Excellent Crowd-Pleaser

Air Review

Air (2023) Film Review, a movie directed by Ben Affleck, written by Alex Convery and starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Marlon Wayans, Damian Delano Young, Matthew Maher, Jay Mohr, Barbara Sukowa, Gustaf Skarsgard, Joel Gretsch, Michael O’Neill, Asante Deshon, Billy Smith and Al Madrigal.

Ben Affleck has directed a true winner with the terrific new drama, Air. In 1984, a middle-aged man from Nike named Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) risked everything, including his very career, to sign Michael Jordan as the sole representation of a line of sneakers that would become known as “Air Jordans.” How did Sonny know that Jordan was going to be “the” greatest basketball player? Was it just a hunch or did he have compelling facts backing up his crazy plan to base a running shoe solely around Jordan’s name? This movie answers these questions (and more) and is exciting and wonderfully acted by all cast members with Matt Damon turning in his best screen performance since The Martian.

As the film begins, we meet the head of marketing at Nike, Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) who isn’t too excited about Sonny’s plans to try and put all of the company’s budget on one (and only one) basketball player– Michael Jordan. Nike was way behind Converse and Adidas which were companies that wanted to sign Jordan to represent their brand. It took days and nights of true dedication for Sonny, Strasser and co. to help create the shoe that would eventually win Jordan’s seal of approval. Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan (a wonderful Viola Davis) had a big influence over the success Jordan garnered as well and Sonny had to think outside the box to convince her that Nike was a step ahead of Converse and Adidas in both creativity and dedication.

Affleck has a juicy role in the movie as Nike CEO, Phil Knight, who occasionally put his feet up on the desk without shoes or socks and he was the primary person behind the company eventually risking the amount of money that had to be invested in Jordan for the sneaker brand to become as successful as it became. Affleck plays his role with aplomb in the movie which he directs with terrific precision. It also has a perfect pace to it and never drags.

Also in the film is Chris Tucker doing his best screen work in years playing Howard White– another driving force behind the recruiting of Jordan to Nike’s brand. Tucker gets some of the movie’s biggest laughs with zany one-liners that are delivered like gangbusters.

Marlon Wayans co-stars in a brief role as George Raveling who had a very important person’s speech handed to him in a key moment in history. Wayans is cast against type and shines in his few pivotal moments in the movie. Chris Messina as David Falk, Michael Jordan’s agent, also gets some of the movie’s wildest dialogue that is both hilarious and bonkers, simultaneously. It’s no wonder Falk tended to be seen eating out by himself. Damon and Messina share a great scene together on opposite ends of the phone that will have audiences cracking up with laughter.

Viola Davis all but secures herself an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in just a few meaty scenes within the picture. Watch the scene where she’s on the phone with Damon’s Sonny. Deloris liked Sonny but wanted her son, Michael, to get what he rightfully deserved as the greatest athlete of his time. When the movie shows the real Jordan speaking about her at the end, it’s a testament to Davis’s great work in presenting how great a mother Deloris was. Davis’s performance is, in a word, perfection.

A great part of Air is its memorable soundtrack. While songs such as “Blister in the Sun” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” are played to superb effect, there is also music which was used in the sports drama, Jerry Maguire, that is also played wonderfully here and helps link two of the greatest sports movies ever made. That’s right, Air is just as good in every way as Cameron Crowe’s classic, Jerry Maguire.

Damon and Bateman are both superstars here with Damon moving the viewer with an emotional part that ranks among one of the best of his filmography and a career-best performance by Bateman. Watch the scene where Bateman’s Rob talks about everything he is putting on the line in supporting Sonny’s vision. Rob talks about his daughter and how much Nike makes him a better dad. Bateman has not delivered as fine a performance before. His truly stunning, fierce role here suits the actor to a tee. He and Damon play off each other like true pros. Damon has a speech in the movie where he must convince Jordan to sign that ranks as some of Damon’s finest work to date. The actor puts all his heart and soul into the role.

Finally, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore (who actually designed the Nike Air Jordan sneaker) gets to shine in his brief, but very relevant role, in the latter stages of the picture. Peter rides a skateboard to work in another hilarious bit in the movie as well. Don’t miss Jay Mohr, the competitive agent from Jerry Maguire, in a cameo within the new movie either!

Air is, quite simply, “the” movie to beat this spring as the best film of the first half of 2023. What makes the movie special is Affleck’s careful attention to detail. There are so many great performances here that it’s hard to single one out for a potential Oscar nod but Davis has to be commended for her truly moving performance. Damon gained some weight here for this part and his dedication to his craft is something all actors should aspire to.

In the end, Air is a crowd-pleaser like no other. It features the best acting ensemble so far this year at the movies. Every major actor in the film put 100% into their role. It certainly was not easy to represent the American success story of Jordan and what makes the United States such a great place to live. Air does it though and almost makes it seem easy to play as superbly as it does. It takes hard work to make a masterpiece but the cast and crew of Air make it look effortless. It’s a remarkable achievement.

Rating: 10/10

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