Air - Movie Review
AIR
A movie by Ben Affleck
These days people watch movies while commuting to office, during office hours (shocking, but true!), on road trips, in restaurants while eating, bathing…yes, the list is endless. With the advent of OTT platforms and cheap internet we watch anything, everything and all the time.
But I still prefer the “old fashioned” way of watching movies on weekends. To select something that will make a lazy Sunday noon interesting and entertaining is quite a task at times but I make sure it is worth the wait.
Last Sunday I saw “Air”, a movie based on Nike’s transformation from an also-ran sports shoe company to the leader in basketball shoe sales.
Initially I thought the movie was an adaptation of Nike founder Phil Knight’s bestseller memoir “Shoe Dog” but it isn’t. Instead, it focuses on one of Nike’s foremost employees, basketball talent scout Sonny Vaccaro, played by Matt Damon, who is hired to sign NBA players for marketing their basketball shoe line. Seeing Damon as a middle-aged man with a paunch and a weary face, in simple t shirts and pants working in a typical 80s office setting felt so refreshing somehow. Every other office-based movie or show these days has slick suits, ray-ban shades, super sleek bodies, razor sharp looks with employees looking more like models off the ramp walk than college graduates with degrees.
Along with Matt Damon, the movie boasts of an impressive star cast of –
Ben Affleck as Phil Knight
Chris Tucker as VP of Nike’s Basketball division
Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan’s mother
Chris Messina as David Falk, Jordan’s agent
Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Director of Marketing at Nike
Matthew Maher as Peter Moore the creative director
Matt Damon is at the top of his game in this sports drama while traits of understated elegance and nonchalance with an unexpected dash of arrogance in Ben Affleck’s Phil makes him a delight to watch. The argumentative verbal banter over telephone (yes, it is the 80s, remember?!) between Matt Damon and Chris Messina is thoroughly entertaining making you chuckle while the depth and grace portrayed by Viola Davis steals the show from everyone around her. Matt Damon’s short, game-changing speech addressing Michael towards the end makes you sit up to listen and process each word as future is unveiled in the form of newspaper cut-outs and headlines on the screen.
A casual scene in office where Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, laments about his personal life to Matt is so realistic and superbly enacted, that though you may have heard similar conversation before, it emits a high emotional wave. It shows us how little we know about those who we work and spend time with 5 days a week and often for years at a stretch. It made me reflect upon the sacrifices made by so many of us at some point or the other, with respect to our family lives and our personal gratification for our organization, our jobs, for that monthly pay check.
And so, when Matt Damon says to Michael in the end, “Each of us sitting here at this table will be forgotten when our time over here is up but for you” it hits you all the more. It tells you in plain, simple words – most of us are replaceable, forgettable. It makes you realize that legends are born once in a while and are one among millions.
Apart from the serious dialogue exchanges, the movie has its fair share of laughs and witty one-liners as well, especially those delivered by Ben Affleck wearing a deadpan expression. The wonderful comic timing of Chris Tucker and his matter-of-fact life truths gives the movie many light moments. The banter amongst employees as they are discussing, brainstorming or arguing is so natural, you will be able to relate to it instantly if you have ever worked in a corporate environment.
Even though the entire movie is a pursuit of Michael Jordan, Affleck chooses not to show his face even once, adding enigma and arrogance to the then future legend.
Though we all know how the end will pan out, (who hasn’t heard of Air Jordan shoes from Nike, bestsellers since its launch?) the slick editing and smooth direction keep you riveted to the screen. Maybe cause somewhere behind all the negativity in life, we all believe in the power of dreams, no matter how absurd or unattainable they may seem.
With this movie, we get to know and carry with us a story about a legend, or maybe two legends. And isn’t that one of the reasons we watch movies for? To be a part of stories, to peek into the lives of people who seem like us in every way but still so different, so inaccessible, so inspiring.
Watch this movie for its story-line, acting, simple but thought-provoking dialogues, direction, and yes, to see Ben Affleck’s purple Porsche, or rather “grape” coloured Porsche!