SUPERB! A must see. Heartwarming, inspiring and hilarious. Matt Damon, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis knock it out of the park.
Air tells an interesting story. Its strength is its performances. Its weakness is that it offers nothing to inspire a second viewing.
As a complete outsider to basketball other than knowing a few key names (Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James) this was an interesting peak into the legacy of the Air Jordan shoe and Nike themselves. Nothing is aggressive or punchy, it's just a nice, rolling story of one of the most iconic pieces of pop culture and the star behind the brand. It's not going to knock your court shoes off, but it's an enjoyable drama that rolls comfortably when it gets going and is smattered with enough 80's nostalgia to keep everything catchy and light. Good stuff, but not the slam dunk you'd think given the reviews.
A staggering tale of an unhinged perseverance which is backed by a captivating screenplay.
Air is a story so frivolous and flat , that the courage of Ben Affleck should be lauded with our hats down. A simple plot which would fit within 3 lines of a page is magically presented to us as a fascinating and appealing peace of history which changed the strature of business in sports in America and revolutionized a global culture, Nike's collaboration with the greatest basketball player in the history of the game, "Michael Jordan". The 2 hours doesn't feel long when you have a dazzling screenplay & a marvelous ensemble cast with their pragmatic conversations. Ben Affleck really puts in a fine effort to yield such sensational performances for the star studded cast.
Brilliant is an understatement for the ensemble cast. I have never seen a better grounded performance of Matt Damon than this. He is sensational. Jason Bateman and Viola Davis add the much needed spark with their magnetic performances. Good to see Chris Tucker back and boy he just gets his sense of humor right each time. The banters between Matt and Chris Messina is the highlight for me. Ben Affleck is a master in terms of direction, the way he manages veterans into building such a collaboration is astounding.
Overall, If you believe in uplifting stories behind sports and redefining moments of history which changed the world we live in today then Air is a great addition to your watchlist.
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A much smaller and slower movie than expected, considering the calibre of names involved in the project.
This might be Amazon's big hope at the Oscar but their only chance here is Viola Davis for Best Supporting Actress.
Well all knew where this movie was going. We all know the story. The movie was okay at portraying the story of how Nike got MJ and the Air Jordan brand became. The movie could’ve been better. Acting was not bad from some rather A lister actors. If it wasn’t for the killer 80’s soundtrack, I would have rated it just a little worse. It was nice to read the stories at the end.
There really wasn't much to this film. The fact is, I found the ending to be particularly egregious. An on-screen graphic stated that Phil Knight has donated $2 billion to charity. What it didn't say was that he weaseled Nike away from its founding father, Bill Bowerman, supported child molesters, rapists, and murderers by giving them multi-million dollar shoe deals, and supported white nationalism, neo-Confederatism, Christo-fascism, and neo-Nazism by being a supporter of Donald Trump and hateful, right-wing policies.
The film also puffed up Sonny Vaccaro, a man who has played a significantly mixed role in American athleticism. Yes, he did help bring Michael Jordan to Nike, and he recruited Ed O'Bannon for the claim against the NCAA that eventually allowed student-athletes to receive payments while in school, but he also had a huge hand in creating the shady, often illegal activities of summer basketball camps, all-star youth tournaments, and elite prospect camps, all endeavors supported by basketball shoe companies, which Vaccaro took a big piece of the pie from. He was essentially paid to force kids to risk their eligibility to play high school and college basketball. This was his day-to-day job. He really wasn't a figure to admired.
Skip it, boring, nothing to add or worth to mentioned about the most iconic shoes of all times. A low budget film who say there, a forgetable film.
The film does not excel in anything, it tells the history of the Air Jordan concept, not knowing the shoes it was interesting to watch it as a sort of documentary. Perhaps too novelized: it stresses an Amazon-like entrepreneurship style, which I do not know whether it really matches what happened in reality, or it is simply producer advertising, again not knowing the full details I can only make conjectures.
It’s not a bad movie, but it bugs me that they didn’t really show Michael’s part in all this. Obviously, this is some rights issue, but it’s a bummer and took me out of it.
From the cast and some of the trailers I thought this might be an edgier take on this story, but instead this is just a good ol' feel-good sports related film. It has funny bits, solid characters, and is earnest enough to have broad appeal. Often times this formula might turn me off, but this was a fun time.
A good film, although a little slow, presenting an interesting story about Nike's efforts to ensure Michael Jordan wore their shoes.
Uncatching Michael Jordan. The Bulls knew how to do it too.
Casting? Tick.
Soundtrack? Tick.
Set and prop designs? Tick.
Acting? Tick.
Great biopic? Tick.
Nike logo? Tick.
"A shoe is just a shoe until someone steps into it."
I still don't like the brand but I do love me some history and some Jordan. Damon is really good and I hope Affleck keeps directing more projects like this. We need more interesting stories! Oh and shout out to the loving Chris Tucker.
I think this might be the frist Affleck/Damon movie that just made me realize it is one, when the credits rolled. Appart from that I really liked how they managed to build tension although everyone and their mother know how the story ends. Very high production value, great (sometimes too obvious) soundtrack choices and great acting. Would recommend!
I think this might be the frist Affleck/Damon movie that just made me realize it is one, when the credits rolled. Appart from that I really liked how they managed to build tension although everyone and their mother know how the story ends. Very high production value, great (sometimes too obvious) soundtrack choices and great acting. Would recommend!
This movie is one of the best biography movies.
The story of the construction of the Air Jordan shoe production line in the Nike factory and the great success of this company in selling these shoes.
In this film, we will see the hard work and risk-taking of Nike employees, which will lead to good results!
This is the Dad of Dad's Movies.
It is very interesting to see the history and know how it really happened. but I confess that many may find the movie boring and that there's nothing special about it, even because even I thought that, really, it's not a big deal and the story isn't even that interesting, but history is history, and I love it when they adapt the story to film, it's very interesting to see how things were at the time, it's an informative film in my opinion, for you to see it and say "ah, so that's how it happened" but it's not a big deal, there's nothing too much, but it's worth watching and I loved it. and the acting is very good.
The whole time, I kept thinking to myself why does the director want me to cheer for what was already a billion dollar company back then like they’re the altruistic underdogs?
Been meaning to watch this for awhile. It does not disappoint. So glad I was able to witness the Jordan era. Excellent flick!
I enjoyed watching this film. Very strong performances by most of the cast.
Big MJ fan so my bias is substantial. Was interesting to see Nike as the bottom of the "big 3". Damon is excellent here as Vaccaro. Viola Davis was also pretty fantastic. Solid 7.9 for me. It's a simple movie, but it's done quite well.
Rated a Connor 5, normal 7.6
Yes finally a good movie which got me hooked all the way. Love how Matt Damon plays a sulky old dude. Good cast, loved the movie and the references. And it was smart not to completely show Micheal Jordan and keep him a mystery.
"A shoe is just a shoe until someone steps into it."
Great cast, Ben Affleck who never disappoints as a director, the story behind Michael Jordan's Nike deal, Viola Davis rocks, Chris Tucker still has those funny eyes, not really showing Michael was a great choice, banger soundtrack, lovely sunglasses Affleck wears and a good enough story to keep your attention for two hours.
This is what would happen if you hired people from Netflix to make a movie.
Looks like a generic Netflix series.
Wonderfully directed and fun for the whole family.
Finally someone can tell the tale of the true heroes in Micheal Jordan's footwear story: Middle-aged white dudes
I kid, I kid. But seriously it's an enjoyable movie even if it gets tangled up in 'memba berries every now and then
Seems a shoe in to at least get nominated for an award or two this year. Thank you, I'll see myself out
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this is. I'm not a huge fan of Chris Tucker but he really did a great job in this. I went into it thinking that it could go either way and walked away shocked that I got into it so much.
Great film, even if you aren't a "sports film" kind of person, this really isn't about the sport but more about the people trying to get their product into the sport.
Wow, Chris Tucker has gotten so old he looks like a frog. Not offensive but in a funny-looking way.
Ben Affleck pulls off a neat trick with Air; he's made a movie that takes place almost exclusively inside an office compelling viewing. Yes, it's predictable (unless you've never heard of Michael Jordan or his eponymous sneaker), and yes it's a dramatized version of history where the (very) rough edges around the main character have been smoothed over. But this is not a documentary. As a piece of theatrical entertainment it's pretty awesome. And the cast all bring it. Matt Damon is fun to watch as Sonny Vaccaro, and Viola Davis is just the perfect mix of nice, polite, and hard-nosed negotiator. Their scenes together are magnetic. And Damon & Affleck's chemistry is still there after all these years. Definitely worth your valuable time.
Slightly forced 1980s aesthetic/nostalgia trip aside, 'Air' is quality!
The 80s was before my time, so I guess I'm not best placed to talk about it, but the constant shots of 80s things with 80s music with extremely 80s enviroments did get a tiny bit tiresome to me. I recall people saying similar-ish with 'Stranger Things' season 3, though I found the mix of it there to more befitting. I'm nit-picking, I know, but it just was super noticeable to me here.
Anyway, enough of that unimportant stuff. The film is great. The whole cast do terrific work, particularly Matt Damon, Viola Davis (the phone call scene between those two is excellent), Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck. I'd say the secondary portion of the almost 2hrs is the stronger, prior to that I was intrigued but not invested... by the end I was both. It's a predictable story, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
The decision to practically not have a Michael Jordan character in a movie about Michael Jordan is an interesting one. It feels a tad awkward when he is in a scene and they intentionally 'hide' him. I get why, and it mostly works, but it does feel dorky at a point or two.
Overall, very good. To be honest, ignore my above nit-picks - it's most definitely worthy of a watch.
I liked the movie, very interesting. Made me want to buy another pair of Nikes.
There has been a constant flow of biopics in recent years. Many have some sort of edge that makes them stand out and likely have a lasting appeal, Air does not do that. Air is a pretty safe film with an outstanding cast that just tells the story. A good story, but a story that could have been told just as well in a documentary. Overall, I enjoyed it, yet there could have been more meat on these bones to have a lasting appeal.
Rating: 3.5/5 - 8/10 - Would Recommend
Disappointing. Many stories work when we know the ending but not this one. The film lacked tension and the HOW wasn't interesting enough to fill in the gaps. It was a perfectly okay watch, but I not one to re-watch.
I found the first hour uninteresting. But it gets better after the pitch meeting with the Jordans.
This would have been a HBO Film back when HBO used to air those on Sundays.
I was surprised for the better. Those who say that Ben Affleck is a better director than actor are right.
That 80's soundtrack is the cherry on top of a great, feel-good movie, filled with nostalgia.
This is a movie comprised almost entirely of people in a room talking. Sometimes they're sitting down. Sometimes they're standing up. Sometimes they're on the phone. But it's all more or less the same idea. I read an early draft of the script and it was much the same, with numerous pages of unbroken dialogue throughout. Now, all of this may sound like a critique, but it's not. This movie accomplishes the difficult task of making scenes of people in a room talking compelling. It's like winning a fight with one arm tied behind your back. It speaks to great dialogue, great performances, and clever filmmaking to add interest to a dialogue heavy script.
I will say that the movie started stronger than it finished. The opening couple scenes were excellent. First, you've got the nostalgia-bait '80's montage intro (and the rest of the music). Yeah, it might be a bit pandering, but who's going to deny that it's effective. Plus, that guitar riff from Dire Straights is a classic. After that, you've got a brilliant introductory scene with the discussion of the draft picks and the follow-up scene with Matt Damon and Jason Bateman in the bathroom. Interestingly, in the script the latter scene took place in the cafeteria, which shows how the foundation of a good scene can be tweaked into a great scene. It's more visually interesting, more dynamic, and adds a bit of humor. Finally, you've got the introduction of Phil Knight, and maybe I'm just a sucker for the Affleck/Damon duo, but all of their scenes together were highlights for me. Overall, these sequences do such a great job establishing the characters, the world, and the central conflict. It's incredibly efficient and effective storytelling.
As the movie progresses, the simplicity of the story does start to detract from the experience somewhat. There's just not that much too it, and what is there, is fairly predictable. Sonny wants to sign Jordan...and he does. It leads to an underwhelming, anti-climactic third act. So again, it's the moment to moment writing that makes the movie. The characters. The dialogue.
We knew exactly where this film was going, but it was a great ride. Mart Damon is very fine at his craft. An honest look at America.
Finally, a film about America's true heroes: marketing dudes. I have to admit that the underdog story is a little hokey for me when it comes to how a billion-dollar company becomes a multi-billion-dollar company. That is, however, one of the reasons I am so impressed with how effectively "Air" actually worked for me in the end. Although, given the people in front of as well as behind the camera, it's not really that much of a surprise. Ben Affleck has always worked for me as a filmmaker, and he and Matt Damon are a dream team.
There are several elements that make "Air" an excellent film. For example, the cast completely convinced me, right down to the last supporting role. In addition to Damon and Affleck, I would single out Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, and Chris Messina. Messina, in particular, is the source of many laughs. In terms of narrative, the film is a classic underdog story that is consistently engaging despite its predictability. Affleck captures the era perfectly and truly transports the viewer back to the 1980s. The music selection contributes more than a small part to this.
Overall, "Air" is a feel-good movie that does exactly what you expect but somehow still manages to surprise you. I, for one, am impressed.
Wow wow wow what a fantastic film about the story behind Nike and how they pulled off the biggest shoe deal ever from the bottom of the totem pole. The casting was a bit overkill but still perfect, especially Matt Damon's character. The first few mins of the film was a bit odd but the rest of the plot development was on par and the way the whole lead up to the negotiation and final deal was a cinematic masterpiece as the audience was really pulled in on the edge of their seats. The casting of Jordan's mom was incredible as she and Matt Damon's conversation at the Jordan house was and incredible moment.
"Some icons are meant to fly"
Air is the story of how Nike managed to convince the Jordan family so that Michael Jordan made a deal with the brand to use his sneakers. And it turns out that it is a very entertaining story. Obviously we all know the outcome, but the journey is entertainingly built with the script by Alex Convery. It's just another movie about how to live the "American dream", but it works quite well. Matt Damon is the one who rises with his leading performance, although the rest of the actors are fine too. I really liked the musical selection, I feel that each melody was perfect for the scenes. And it's definitely a movie about branding and dealing with the Jordan family, don't expect anything from Michael until the end credits.
Micheal Jordan sign the contract!
On paper and in some of the execution it is a “Who cares? We know how this ends/Corporate commercial” but the cast is so good and it’s still an engrossing story about a precedent setting deal. Plus Affleck is having a ball and that’s always fun to watch
Shout by JordyVIP 8BlockedParent2023-05-12T20:21:18Z
A very safe effort from Ben Affleck. It has solid performances and a decent story, but the film feels unremarkable and predictable. The filmmaking is also not that great. This could look so much better if Affleck just pulled back the camera occasionally, or showed more restraint with the overabundance of nostalgic needle drops. Still, the corporate maneuvering is written in a way that’s interesting enough (if not particularly insightful, this is more interested in being an entertaining crowdpleaser), and it moves along at a good pace. The characters are also pretty well drawn, but overall nothing left much of an impression on me.
5.5/10