Genre: Comedy; Drama
Director: Ben Affleck
Writer: Alex Convery
Starring: Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker & Julius Tennon
People who go watch Air expecting a groundbreaking sports drama will have a letdown, but Air is a solid real-life story put on-screen and told in a very straightfoward way. It's the "boy next door" of sports drama, but it doesn't mean it has nothing special: there's something very charming about this movie. The ensemble cast is great, the pace is great and the script is excellent - I was never truly impressed, but I was never bored... in fact, it is one of the most engaging "simple" comedy/dramas in recent years.
Air is made of great direction decisions. Ben Affleck has offered us some impressive heavy work in Gone Baby Gone, The Town and Argo, but he's equally effective and narrative-focused with the lighter material Air is made of. In fact, I believe Affleck relies mostly in the ensemble cast in order to keep the narrative moving... and he knows his cast well and pulls singular effective performances that he successfully puts together. Leading the film, we have Matt Damon in what feels like an effortless performance that exudes empathy all over, the rest of the cast members just follow his lead - Jason Bateman plays the competent boss turned sidekick who's facing domestic issues (he even has a baity monologue in the begining of the 3rd act); Ben Affleck plays Phil Knight in a small but relevant role in the narrative; Chris Tucker brings some feel-good energy in every scene; Chris Messina is scene-stealing, making every second of his presence count; but it's Viola Davis who brings the heart as the mother of Michael Jordan (it's not a showy or potent performance, but something very low-key yet perfect considering her character's nature and role on the narrative). Add this fantastic cast some very good lines and you couldn't ask more from a movie like this, but Affleck goes a bit further with an excellent editing work from William Goldenberg. Plus, the movie is filled with 80's nostalgia and the cultural background plays a huge role in the movie. In fact, the first scenes evoque the 80's culture and the audience's first contact with the movie is really with the cultural setting. And suddenly, audiences emerge in another time. A note about the smart decision of never showing Michael Jordan's face during the whole movie - a statement that it is a movie about the guys (and parents) behind the legend that worked hard so the athlete could achieve its full sports potential and media visibility. Unlike the movie's title might suggest, it is more about team work than the shoe itself.
So, while there's nothing truly impressive about Air, there's also nothing bad to say about it. It is the charming boy next door of the comedy-dramas. Sometimes we just need a good and relaxed movie with an inspirational message - and Air fully delivers in this department.
RATING: 7,5 / 10
Oscar potential categories:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Ben Affleck)
- Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis)
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Editing
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