Air , 2023
Directed by Ben Affleck.
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Viola Davis, Julius Tenon, Damian Young, Matthew Maher, Gustav Skarsgård, Barbara Sukova, Jay Mohr, Joel Gretch, Michael O'Neill, Asante Deshawn. , Billy Smith, Al Madrigal, Jackson Damon, Dan Bucatinsky, Jessica Green, Gabriel Bourne, Joshua Funk, Andy Hirsch, Jeff Cook, Albert Stroth and Mackenzie Rain.
Synopsis
Discover the story of shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro and how he helped Nike find the greatest athlete in basketball history.
It's 1984 and Michael Jordan (arguably the greatest professional basketball player of all time) has yet to set foot on an NBA court. Sonny Vaccaro, Matt Damon's Nike-wearing player scout, walks into the store (which belongs on sick days, among cereal-box jocks) and, chatting casually with the basketball cashier, Michael thinks Jordan has won. the twins He did little for himself or the Chicago Bulls. It's hard to imagine people who haven't yet noticed this goodness, but Ben Affleck's Aira (played by Alex Convery) offers him the opportunity to tell a touching and heartwarming story about people who have seen something special in him since birth. the University the games
Perhaps more importantly, the Air shouldn't function as a standard biopic about the life of a celebrity or a ragtag group of Nike employees, coupled with Sony's risky bid to play the future of the company's basketball shoes. Not only can you sign Michael Jordan's lucrative contract online, but you can also sign his shoes with his personality and team, even if it means breaking the NBA's shoe color rules (must be at least 50% white ) and always pay out of pocket. . .
Sitting in meetings where no one wants or has a hand in the basketball scene, Sony leads them to CEO Phil Knight (played by director Ben Affleck), a boss who has grown more secretive and lost his edge. Make a big bet. As a director, Ben Affleck avoids the problem of getting the audience to enjoy the company. Sure, there are competitors, like the German company Adidas (now owned after a tragic bankruptcy, though perhaps not so tragic, given that the former CEO was a Nazi) and Converse, who appear greedy or out of touch. with reality, with bad guys, but Air 's Script is about the stagnation and failure that can happen when a company becomes complacent, unable to reinvent itself with a new vision and connect with the talent involved in the business.
Michael Jordan (played by Damien Young) no doubt manages to treat his friend Harvey Weinstein by looking in the back of his head (an annoying creative decision that takes away more purpose and focus here as a person and character, but somehow understandably, it's hard to fathom). However, with limited screen time) As you can see, it stands to reason that his mother, Deloris Jordan (an extraordinarily reliable Viola Davis), and her son, are not interested in signing with Nike; they have the lowest market share, are out of date and are more likely to get offers from other companies unless they build a house there (depending on your question) (who is willing to lend a luxury car) can't be matched.
It's Sony who can connect with marketing maven Rob Strausser (Jason Bateman), brand spokesperson Howard White (Chris Tucker), his experience with gamers before his injury, and unsung hero Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), tragically died. a month later Before announcing it as Project Air , they teamed up to create the perfect shoe that embodies Michael Jordan's personality and as a player, as well as something that fits your preferences on the court. It also focuses on imagining and creating a product that is specific to the person, bending and breaking the rules to develop a great product that captures that appealing look, no matter the person's level of passion for footwear.
Meanwhile, Sony spends a lot of money on this deal, undermines Phil's skepticism, gets into a bit of a fight with Michael Jordan's agent John Falk (Chris Messina), threatens to eat seeds and gets something done. College basketball coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) is thrust into the spotlight when Sonny directs 18-year-old Michael Jordan (on all things Michael Jordan).
There seems to be a lot going on in the air , but Ben Affleck is a seasoned filmmaker who knows how to keep the texture clean, gliding through the air and screeching with energy as each thrust comes together to achieve that harmony. He assembles a talented team who, in key moments of ping-pong chat, remind Sonny how much work is at stake and that one ill-advised risk can have dire consequences for his colleagues. Some parents struggle or enjoy coping with a midlife crisis.
Expanding on this point, it would be silly to pick a one-off MVP, but Matt Damon is believable as a guy who trusts his gut and takes bold steps as he tries to take Nike to new heights. She and Ben Affleck had electric chemistry, and her character-driven scenes with Viola Davis spark important conversations about companies that exploit young gamers. In fact, there's good reason to think that the story would have been more powerful and interesting if it had been told from the point of view of the parent, Deloris Jordan. There's room for more time with Jordan's family, but what's here is light, comforting work on serious issues changing the world of sports. This is an original approach to tell the life of a family.
Each square in Robert Richardson's cinematography depicts the office space, culture and fashion of 1984, with a reference level that oscillates between nostalgia and an organic representation of the era. Even the often noticeable needle drops are so spot on that it's hard to hate them. There's also a fair amount of fan service (the Chicago Bulls opening theme plays at one point), but it's full of sincerity throughout the two-hour run.
And this is how the film compensates for its lack of character depth, serving as pure entertainment with the eccentric characters involved in negotiating this deal. Each of Ben Affleck's playmaking decisions play deftly with the momentum of the air , breaking the conventional frame and soaring through the air with the power of Michael Jordan's dunk.
Rating Flash Legends – Movie: ★★★ / Movie: ★★★★
Robert Codger is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics' Choice Association. He is also the reviewer for The Flying Legend. Stay tuned here for new reviews, follow me on Twitter or Letterboxd or email me at [email protected].