Film Review - AIR
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Since his 1998 Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting (won with friend Matt Damon), Ben Affleck has proven himself as a reliable leading man on the screen. However, where he has shone the most in the last decade is in his directorial efforts. With crime dramas Gone Baby Gone and The Town being now regarded as some of the best in the genre, and 2012’s Argo winning the Oscar for Best Picture – Affleck has demonstrated a near masterful grasp on genre, tension and setting beyond doubt at this point. While his new film, AIR, is a definite change in tone and genre from his previous works, it certainly re-emphasises Affleck’s true strengths as a director and holds up when compared to the classics he has helmed before.
AIR tackles the true story of how a few Nike sales executives along with their CEO attempt to sign the then-rookie Michael Jordan as a partner. Now while one might assume such a premise to be particularly dull and heavily business-savvy, Affleck thankfully achieves a highly entertaining, uplifting and at many times hilarious film thanks to a few key factors. Firstly, the film is anchored by an A-list ensemble that each imbue their characters with the typical charm and charisma we’ve come to expect from such on-screen juggernauts. The film’s primary protagonist is Sonny Vaccaro - the Nike sports marketing executive that bets it all on Jordan as the next greatest Basketball player – and is played brilliantly by Matt Damon. Damon truly shines with his typical everyman charm as he channels the incredibly likable, out-of-shape underdog Vaccaro. However, he is often out-acted by the brilliant, scene-stealing supporting cast; Jason Bateman and Chris Tucker add a consistent light-heartedness to the film with their genuine and comedic performances. Viola Davis is expectedly brilliant as Jordan’s mother, Deloris, and her distinctive dominant and watchable presence gently draws the film’s true emotional core to the surface. But perhaps the most enjoyable – and the most surprising – of all the performances were the infectiously hilarious turns by Affleck himself as Nike CEO Phil Knight and Chris Messina as Jordan’s agent, David Falk. Their oddball and oftentimes cartoonish (but never too cartoonish) deliveries of certain lines evoked an uproar of laughter in the cinema, a particularly surprising reaction when considering a film dominated by scenes of characters talking business in rooms.
Secondly - and perhaps most importantly - the film’s sharp, comedic script, brought to life by an ever so confident Affleck, truly elevates this film from what could be TV-movie quality filmmaking to one of this year’s masterpieces. The screenplay written by Alex Convery is perfectly paced, with razor sharp dialogue that darts swiftly between cynical and sometimes hilarious comedy, to truly uplifting emotion, without ever being too sentimental. Affleck roars Convery’s script to life in glorious fashion with these brilliantly written scenes shot energetically , to the point where just a scene depicting a pitch meeting feels just as tense and inspiring as one of Jordan’s own championship games. Like Argo, Affleck again shows off his masterful grasp on time and setting, with a particular focus on minor details of the era (like a lingering close-up of an 80’s 7-Eleven Slurpee machine) or the film’s rocking 80’s pop-heavy soundtrack that gives the film an irresistibly palpable atmosphere.
A pleasant surprise, Affleck and company took a real-life story that on paper would generally only interest hardcore basketball fans and turned it into a beautifully inspiring and hilarious crowd pleaser that everyone can get behind. A true testament to the belief in one’s talent and potential, AIR celebrates the story of how some commonly unknown underdogs saw something in someone that led to one of the biggest and most profitable sportswear partnerships of all time – and it is an endlessly entertaining and enjoyable watch to boot.
AIR is screening in cinemas from Thursday 5th April. For tickets and more info, click here.