Air is a fast paced, well-acted look behind the scenes of professional basketball at Nike’s quest to sign an endorsement deal with rookie player Michael Jordan. It turns into a parable about capitalistic hustle, the role of superstars, and values such as faith and hope.
Matt Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike executive who has a gift for spotting winners. He has his eye on a 21-year-old NBA draftee who left college early. He is sure he will be great for the Nike brand, but he must convince Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck), marketing VP Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), and Jordan’s agent David Falk (Chris Messina) to agree to a new sneaker deal just when the Oregon-based company is about to shut down their basketball shoe division.
Sonny comes up with a creative plan that involves a new approach to basketball shoes, a new arrangement with players, and a dream come true for Michael Jordan and his mother (Viola Davis).
Air is a thinking person’s sports flick with its clash of business competition and its thematic exploration of how sports have been shaped by money, statistics, fans, and commercials.