A One Mann’s Movies review of “Air” (2023).
In writing my review for “Everything Everywhere All At Once” last May, I famously said that I was going to put an accumulator bet on the movie winning both “Best Editing” and “Best Original Screenplay”. But then I couldn’t find a bookie to take the bet so early in the year! Coming out of Ben Affleck’s new film (seen as a #cineworldunlimited early preview screening last week) I made a similar commitment: that “Air” would win both “Best Picture” in March 2024 and also “Best Supporting Actress” for Viola Davis. And, do you know, I still can’t find an online bookie to take the bet! (If anyone has any suggestions, please leave a comment!)
For this is a real blast of a film. Steeped in 80’s style (or lack thereof), it’s an excellent vehicle to put Affleck and Matt Damon back on screen together. And it gets one of my very rarely dished out….
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Based on a true story, Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) is a ‘spotter’ for the Nike baseball division. A long-time employee and friend of the founder and CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck), Sonny is nevertheless under pressure to perform since the division is losing market share to both Adidas and Converse. His marketing colleagues Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker) are both fearful for their jobs. Sonny comes up with an outlandish ‘do-or-die’ plan. But can it deliver the goods: the ‘goods’ in this case being the sports contract with one Michael Jordan?
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC: “Strong language”).
Talent:
Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, Viola Davis, Matthew Maher, Julius Tennon.
Directed by: Ben Affleck.
Written by: Alex Convery.
Twitter Handle: #airmovie.
Planning the shoe like a military campaign. Matthew Maher, Matt Damon and Jason Bateman (Source: Amazon Studios).
“Air” Review:
Positives:
- I mean…. being of a certain age I feel I can look back on certain decades and think “Bloody Hell, that was a naff one”. I’m talking style-wise here of course (he added hastily, since his two daughters were born in that decade!) But in the era just before the internet changed everything, it was all dodgy fashions, long hair, pagers, Rubik’s cubes and huge ‘mobile’ phones. All of this is beautifully rendered by Affleck in the opening scenes from the film, which made my whole screening totally SOGGY with nostalgia (even if it was a naff time!). The production design of the Nike offices is excellent, and the film uses ample amounts of footage from both news and movies of the time. (As for “Moonage Daydream“, the clearance department deserves a special recognition award here).
- Matt Damon is on top form. This is his best acting performance for me since his Oscar nominated turn in “The Martian“. He inhabits Sonny perfectly, and clearly had to pile on a whole load of weight! There’s a particular speech that he does at a key moment which – if he gets nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, and I think he might – then that will be his Oscar-reel segment!
- In the supporting area, Viola Davis is simply superb as Mrs Jordan: quietly and forcibly reflecting the ‘power behind the throne’ in the Jordan household. And for me she would be a shoe-in for an Oscar nomination and (given she was passed over this year) I would possibly predict a win.
- Also great in supporting roles were Jason Bateman (great hair!) as the nervous and over-eager marketing exec; Chris Tucker (only his 3rd film in 16 years, since the last of the “Rush Hour” series) as the key black catalyst in the Nike team; and Chris Messina as the fast talking and very agitated sports agent. Messina delivers the best phone rant* since Tom Cruise did his famous “Show Me The Money” speech in ‘Jerry Maguire’!
- Although (as below) I wasn’t 100% happy with Affleck’s acting in this, the combination of the writing (by Alex Convery, impressively with his debut screenplay) and/or Affleck’s directing delivers some deft touches to the story. We ‘care’ about the fate of the baseball office staff through Damon quietly contemplating the minutia of home life sitting on or around the employees desks. And – leaping ahead at times – we find out what happens to some of the the characters we are seeing through captions or real news footage.
* As far as I can see, this seems to be the primary reason for the BBFC giving this one a ’15’ rather than a ’12’. With a bit of judicious editing, I think this one could have got a more family-friendly release.
Negatives:
- Honestly, I wasn’t wowed by Ben Affleck’s acting in this one which sometimes seemed false and laboured. Perhaps that’s the inevitable downside of both directing and acting in the same film?
- Occasionally – just occasionally – Affleck reaches for ‘Cheese-factor-11’ in directing the film. For example, some cheesy “Win one for the Gipper” music over Damon’s Oscar-reel moment made me cringe inside a bit.
Summary Thoughts on “Air”
This is a fabulous rollercoaster of a film that both myself and the illustrious Mrs Movie Man gave a BIG thumbs up to. Will we go and see it again when it comes out on April 5th? You Betcha!
VERY much recommended for your Easter weekend cinema visit.
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Trailer for “Air”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euy4Yu6B3nU .
