Matt Damon and Viola Davis appear as Sonny Vaccaro and Deloris Jordan in "Air." (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios)

Shoes are the star in riveting ‘Air’

I don’t know much about basketball. I know less about Nike, and, to me, Jordan is mostly just the guy from “Space Jam.”

“Air” is composed almost entirely of people talking about shoes — riveting depictions of people talking about shoes.

The film, which made a brief appearance in local theaters a couple of months ago and is now streaming on Amazon, follows the 1984 effort by Nike’s floundering basketball division to sign Michael Jordan.

I don’t know much about basketball. I know less about Nike, and, to me, Jordan is mostly just the guy from “Space Jam.” But “Air” enthralled me.

“Air” feels at times like a feature-length advertisement for Nike, but it balances that with a largely critical take on capitalism and corporate growth as stifling to ingenuity. I took it more to be a spectacular biopic for an influential individual in Sonny Vaccaro, played by Matt Damon, and also as an interesting period piece about a key moment in the history of capitalism and sports, when the personality became forever entangled in the product.

Vaccaro is portrayed early and often as a risk-taker with a biting intuition — one who maybe doesn’t know when to quit. He works for Nike and is responsible for identifying which athletes they should pursue for marketing deals. He bets the department’s entire budget on one athlete — on Jordan — who doesn’t want to even meet with Nike.

“Air” is a story about recognizing opportunities and taking risks — it also interestingly says that the act of taking the risk is valuable even if it doesn’t pay off.

“Just because you lose doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good bet,” Vaccaro says in one exchange.

Damon is, throughout “Air,” stunning — and surrounded by other great actors delivering other great performances. Standing above the pack and truly making an impact is Viola Davis as Jordan’s mother Deloris.

Three key scenes in the film — probably the most important scenes — center on conversations between Sonny and Deloris.

While the central theme of the film is Sonny’s bold, maybe reckless endeavor to sign Jordan, it also explores the loss of personality in a growing company and celebrates individuals who stand up to those monolithic corporations and enact change.

The film, in its third act, doubles down on that second point, as Deloris champions her son getting a cut of all revenue from the Air Jordan. It connects Sonny’s involvement with that deal to his real-world involvement in the more recent efforts of college athletes to be financially compensated for the use of their images.

Sonny tells Deloris that’s not how the industry works — she contends that maybe it needs to change.

“Air” is far more interesting than a movie about a shoe marketing deal might sound. There’s plenty here to enjoy without a solid grasp on the history of basketball — and it does a good job of making those dynamics, like the rivalry between Nike, Converse and Adidas accessible. It’s a compelling story about chasing a feeling and forcing a change.

“Air” is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

More in Life

These festive gingerbread cookies are topped with royal icing and sprinkles. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Rolling out the gingerbread

With Christmas around the corner, it’s time for the holiday classic

Paper chains made of gratitude strips adorn a Christmas tree at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harber)
Minister’s Message: Grateful and kind

What if, instead of gathering around tables and talking about what has already happened TO us, we challenge ourselves to return kindness to the world around us

Roasted broccoli Caesar salad provides some much-needed greens and fiber to balance out the rolls and gravy. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
A toasty, warm salad for a cozy Thanksgiving

This warm side dish provides some much-needed greens and fiber to balance out the rolls and gravy

Nick Varney
Unhinged Alaska: Some things never change. Nor should they

In the dawdling days prior to Thanksgiving, things are usually as serene as a gentle snowfall within our modest piece of nirvana

This photo from the early 1960s shows Jackson Ball enjoying the Christmas holidays with his eldest three daughters. His fourth and youngest daughter was born less than a year and a half before Ball’s death in 1968. (Photo from Ball Family memorial slideshow, 2022)
Human Complexity: The Story of Jackson Ball — Part 3

Misfortune was written across the recent history of the Arlon Elwood “Jackson” Ball family

File
Minister’s Message: Reflect upon our daily joys and blessings this Thanksgiving

There is nothing like missing something like your health to make you grateful for having good health.

Marvel Studios
On the Screen: ‘Marvels’ messy but very fun

Where the film shines is in the stellar performances of its three leads

Forever Dance performs “Snow” during “Forever Christmas 2022.” (Photo courtesy Forever Dance)
Forever Dance ushers in Christmas season with annual variety show

“Forever Christmas” will bring the sounds and movements of the season to the Kenai Central High School auditorium

These snowballs are made of chocolate cupcakes are surrounded with sugary meringue and coconut flakes. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Snowballs for a snow day

Winter-themed cupcakes celebrate a day at home

File
Minister’s Message: God’s selfie

I can think of no one word that encapsulates our age, that defines our collective priorities and focus better than that innocuous little term

This is an early photo of U.S. Army soldier Arlon Elwood “Jackson” Ball in uniform. The patches, ribbons and medals on this uniform demonstrate that he had not yet served overseas or been involved in any combat. (Photo from Ball Family memorial slideshow, 2022)
Human Complexity: The Story of Jackson Ball — Part 2

Perhaps going to Alaska was the fresh start he needed at this time in his life

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Noise

The first 10 years we were in Alaska we lived remotely