Although primarily known for his breakout role in Good Will Hunting, Ben Affleck has surprisingly impressive professional poker credentials. This includes a 2004 California state championship win of over $350,000.
However, Ben Affleck’s latest big screen endeavor has seen the actor’s beloved hobby playing poker games take a back seat. Reuniting with long-term collaborator and college friend Matt Damon, ‘Air’ tells the story of Michael Jordan’s historic Nike partnership.
The film’s star-studded cast includes Damon and Affleck alongside the likes of Jason Bateman, Viola Davis and Chris Tucker. Affleck also assumes directing responsibilities, in his fifth directorial undertaking.
Air is another one of Amazon Studio’s huge recent buyouts, costing the company an estimated $160 million. After its initial theatrical release, the movie will be available to stream on Prime Video in May.
Air was released to both commercial and critical praise, leading many to claim the movie has defied all expectations.
The Plot
Air is set during the mid 1990s, during which Nike’s basketball shoe department was suffering from poor sales. In an effort to bolster sales, Marketing VP Rob Strasser and CEO Phil Knight endeavored to find a marketable brand figurehead.
Former high school basketball tournament organizer Sonny Vaccaro was tasked with finding the perfect candidate. Despite Michael Jordan’s preference for Converse and Adidas, Vaccaro was adamant that he was exactly what Nike were looking for.
At the time of the deal, Jordan was a third draft pick about to enter the NBA as an unknown rookie. Nike was also far less popular than today, and an outsider in the sports shoe market.
The deal banked on Jordan eventually becoming an NBA star, making it extremely risky yet ultimately a success.
The Cast
Air’s casting has received extensive praise, with several powerful performances. Viola Davis is a standout, portraying perfectly the role of Jordan’s passionate mother who’s surprisingly involved in negotiations.
Julius Tennon assumes the role of the Hall of Famer’s father, James. Tennon captures James Jordan’s softer, more delicate approach compared to that of Michael’s mother, Deloris.
The decision to cast Davis came from Michael Jordan himself, being one of two requests he had regarding production. The other was the inclusion of friend Howard White, whom Chris Tucker portrayed.
The dynamic between Sonny Vaccaro and Phil Knight is captured perfectly by Damon and Affleck, who share palpable on-screen chemistry. Jason Bateman stars as Rob Strasser and captures his matter of fact and sarcastic personality whilst still delivering in the movie’s emotional moments.
Chris Messina plays David Falk, Jordan’s audacious agent who features in one of Air’s most memorable scenes. Critics agree that Messina’s performance has gone somewhat under the radar, and that the actor deserves more praise.
Marlon Wayans is George Raveling, Olympic Team assistant coach who also shares a good relationship with Affleck, demonstrating easy rapport and banter. Finally, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, the designer of the iconic air logo, whose quirkiness is perfectly acted by Maher.
The Reaction to Air
Air has received plaudits from both critics and casual moviegoers alike. Affleck’s remarkable direction is largely responsible, producing a movie that is far more entertaining than the premise would suggest.
Critics’ reviews consistently highlighted the Batman actor’s ability to drive an engaging real-world narrative, even when solely dialogue driven.
Air currently has a 7.6/10 on IMBd, a 92% Tomatometer and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a directorial high for Affleck, dethroning the 96% score held by his Best Picture winning movie, Argo.
Air’s critical acclaim has many suggesting that it has significant potential at next year’s Oscars.
Box Office and Budget
Variety estimated a budget of around $90 million to produce Air, the majority of which was spent on the all-star cast. Unlike many blockbuster releases, Air doesn’t include expensive CGI sequences, or huge costly sets.
The movie’s celebrated soundtrack was another notable outlay, with music licensing constituting a large part of the budget. Shooting in LA was another financial burden as the area is renowned for being extremely expensive.
Overall, the $90 million figure is surprisingly high for a relatively low-key biographical movie. Skeptics have suggested that Air will struggle to recoup its costly production and is destined to lose money.
Air made $20.2 million at the box office during its opening weekend earning around $86 million overall worldwide.
Air Is a Resounding Success
Prior to Air’s release, few people had ever given the inception of Michael Jordan’s Nike deal much thought. Affleck manages to tell the incredible story in an engaging and respectful manner, resulting in one of the year’s best releases.
Although relatively inexperienced as a director, Affleck’s latest movie has highlighted the Oscar winner’s skill behind the camera. Great direction and standout performances have left little doubt that Air has defied and exceeded all expectations.