Is Ben Affleck's "Air" the first Oscar contender of the upcoming season?
Early reactions have been quite enthusiastic about Affleck's latest directorial effort - a crowd-pleaser that has actually a higher message to deliver. Amazon has decided to give it a wide theatrical release in the U.S. while Warner Bros. was granted the international distribution rights, which means Air is no lesser picture at the eyes of studios.
In fact, Amazon Studios has failed to generate a big awards contender ever since Manchester By the Sea back in 2016 - of course Ladj Ly's Les Misérables (2020), Cold War (2019) and The Salesman (2017) were Best Foreign Language Academy Awards nominees (with The Salesman even winning), but afar from these three and I Am Not Your Negro and The Big Sick (both scored 1 Oscar nom), Amazon Studios hasn't had a big awards hit a long time ago. Is it a bad sign for Ben Affleck's Air? Or is it a good sign for Amazon?
Air closed this year's edition of SXSW film festival... and it closed with a cinematic slam dunk. It generated a lot of buzz, specially around the ensemble cast's performance and the script - two fundamental elements of a movie that often dictate its trajectory awards-wise. An all-star cast will boost its visibility considering the media coverage (and social media interest) they are able to attract.
"And that makes “Air” a fascinating metatext from a filmmaker whose entire life often reads as a work of accidental performance art. As a sports movie, “Air” is competent in all the right ways — good performances, strong dialogue, and a nice focus on 1980s production design and world-building — landing in the upper echelons of the Dad Movie lexicon. But as a thinly-veiled reflection on the industry he’s looking to change, Affleck’s movie is meant to reach far beyond the boundaries of sports. It may seem weird to celebrate a movie for its subtext over its text" - Matthew Monagle, The Playlist
"Each actor in Affleck’s latest film gives a powerful and award winning performance. “Air” is a slam dunk and ultimately one of the best sports movies ever made. Affleck successfully captures Nike’s heartwarming and hilarious marketing journey while paying respectful homage to all involved. “Air” is a tremendous underdog story filled with lovable characters. It’s truly a film about legends made by legends." - Marisa Mirabal, indieWire
"(...) a funny, touching Cinderella story about how the third-place sneaker brand wished upon a star, and how that man — and his mother — were smart enough to know their value. “Air” reveals how an exceptional Black athlete leveraged his talent — and the power of being pursued by a bunch of white men in suits — to change the game. Not just basketball, but the whole field of celebrity endorsements. It’s remarkable and fitting that Affleck focuses these negotiations not on Michael Jordan but the woman he trusted most, his own personal “King Richard”: mother Deloris (Viola Davis)." - Peter Debruge, Variety
"Excellently-curated needle drops and stock footage of memorable mementoes and moments from the era seem like set dressing, but a timely speech from Bateman serves as a reminder that this was the era of ever-growing exploitation, and that doing right by an athlete or by anyone was a rarity. Moreover, the presentation of all those instantly recognizable images and still-hummable sounds is a reminder that this is about how two inseparable icons joined that pop culture pantheon: Michael Jordan, the celebrity, and the Air Jordan, the embodiment of the man. As always, Affleck remains one of the directors who can disguise a powerful parable as giddy, crowd-pleasing entertainment." - Richard Whittaker, Austin Chronicle
So, considering the amount of praise Air has been getting, I believe it might stay strong until the end of the year. Of course buzz might fade, but it will always depend on the studios award ambitions and ability to bank and promote this one. Last season has shown the world that a movie doesn't need to be released in the over-crowded Fall-Winter season in order to reach glory, so...! Could Ben Affleck get the Best Director nomination he deserved back in Argo days? Could Viola Davis earn her 5th Oscar nomination? Can a crowd-pleasing sports drama (or backstage sports drama!) with an early release make its way to the Oscars? Reviews suggest a "Yes" to all my three questions.
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Ben Affleck)
- Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis)
- Best Original Screenplay (Alex Convery)
- Best Editing (William Goldenberg)
- Best Cinematography (Robert Richardson)
- Best Production Design.
Keep an eye on this one!
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