Director
Ben Affleck
(ARGO, THE TOWN)

Starring
Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman

Growing up as a kid of the 90’s, Nike and Michael Jordan went together like Melbourne supporters and the snow fields. Air Jordan’s were the shoe that every kid needed to have and some were lucky enough to land….if their Mum wasn’t trying to convince them that Aerosport was equally as cool (thanks Mum). But the story of how this partnership came about is a ripping one. In the 1980’s the Nike Basketball division was about as cool as your Dad’s choice of radio station. Adidas and Converse reigned supreme and had the ability to sign all of the NBA’s biggest stars to wear their products. Nike on the other hand were scrapping to sign the players that the big dogs didn’t want. That was until Marketing Exec Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) decided that Nike had to put all of their energy and comparatively small basketball budget into landing the signature of one of the hottest rookies to enter the NBA.  The only problem with this idea was that the Nike board didn’t want to put all of their eggs in one basket, and that hot young prospect by the name of Michael Jordan didn’t want to be seen in a pair of Nike shoes.  

Air is the story of how the men behind the scenes at Nike managed to put together one of the biggest marketing pitches in the history of sport, and create a deal that revolutionized the relationship between athletes and sporting goods companies worldwide.

Directed by Ben Affleck, the way that Air is both engaging and at times hilarious, with touching moments that show just what the brand means to a lot of its dealmakers is a breath of fresh air (pardon the pun). Damon is impressive as the somewhat flawed but highly passionate and dedicated Vaccarro, and Affleck’s turn as Nike founder and Chairman Phil Knight is comically brilliant. There are layers of warmth shown through Jordan’s mother Deloris (Viola Davis) and her dedication to ensuring her son is more than just another basketballer, as well as a beautifully understated turn from Jason Bateman as Nike Advertising Manager Rob Strasser.

It’s rare that a film where everyone knows the outcome can remain intriguing and engaging from the outset, but it’s a feat that Air manages to achieve. The destination is known, but the journey is still a worthwhile one. The acting is on point, brought about by some clever writing. It’s a sports film that isn’t a sports film, but will appeal to a wide audience. One of the better films of 2023 thus far.

Air is in cinemas now.