Review: Ben Affleck takes simple story in 'Air' and helps it rise above rote

Someone at Amazon Studios was thinking when it was decided that “Air” would not go directly to its streaming service Amazon Prime Video.

Had they taken the Ben Affleck-directed film about how basketball legend Michael Jordan came to land at Nike and sent it directly to the small screen, its emotional impact would be blunted. As it stands, “Air” is a film with significant traditional feel to it in that it’s one of those smaller films that would have been a no-brainer theatrical release 15-20 years ago.

It’s an uncomplicated story anchored by compelling performances from Matt Damon as basketball guru Sonny Vaccaro, Chris Tucker as Nike Vice President Howard White, Jason Bateman as Nike marketing exec Rob Strasser and Affleck as Nike founder Phil Knight all channeling the snappy, humor-infused dialogue of screenwriter Alex Convery.

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Here’s the kicker: They’re not the absolute strength of the film, and it takes a significant effort to surpass what they put on screen. Enter Oscar-winner Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Michael’s mother, who with limited screen time swooshes in and steals each and every scene she appears with a sly smile, a cocked eyebrow and supreme intelligence.

The film, which centers on Nike’s basketball division pre-M.J. when it was a struggling in that particular segment of the shoe industry (something unthinkable today), is certainly a tale with a jock bent to it replete with the language and attitudes associated with that aesthetic.

But it’s equally the tale of mother trying to do what is absolutely right by her son. Some would say Deloris is a mother hen looking after her chick. Nope, she’s a vulture keeping other vultures at bay, ensuring that her son receives what she believes he’s worth.

In that pursuit, Davis is at the height of her powers in the business meeting the Jordan family takes with Nike’s executive team. In fact, there’s not an actor who participates in the gathering that will decide Michael Jordan’s marketing fate who is off balance.

The fact that Convery’s script can take something as rote as a business meeting and turn it to a scene fraught with tension, emotion and sincerity is a testament to his prowess. But the cast deserves praise for finding the humor, passion and heart in the scene.

Damon, Bateman and Tucker show heightened chemistry with one another while Affleck brings out an eccentric side to Knight.

He focuses his directorial efforts on what matters most – the heart and appeal of the story – rather than attempting to make “Air” a basketball film. It allows him to create a crowd pleaser.

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal. Reach him at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Movie: “Air”

Cast: Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Ben Affleck

Directed by:  Ben Affleck

Running time: 1 hours, 52 minutes

Rated: R for language throughout

Grade: B+

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ben Affleck helps "Air" soar in film about Nike, Michael Jordan