‘Air’ Oscar? Why Ben Affleck’s Michael Jordan Sneaker Story Is 2023’s First Slam Dunk Awards Contender
variety.comClayton Davis Senior Awards Editor As a director, Ben Affleck has proven himself to be a versatile, compelling talent, moving seamlessly from the morally complex “Gone Baby Gone” to the stark crime drama “The Town” to the tense and thrilling best picture winner “Argo.” Even Affleck’s one directorial misstep, the critically panned box office bomb “Live by Night,” has an intriguing gloss and conviction.
That’s why it’s so difficult for many viewers to answer: “Which Affleck-directed joint is your favorite?” Well, that decision may get even harder with the arrival of “Air,” Affleck’s latest feature which premiered as the Closing Night film at the South by Southwest Film Festival earlier this month. “Air” tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a marketing executive for the athletic shoe and apparel supplier Nike, Inc., who seeks to strike a deal with rookie basketball player Michael Jordan during the 1980s.
Anchored by Damon’s committed leading performance – his best since “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999) – the film is an old-fashioned “Dad movie,” you know, the kind of straight-forward, absorbing yarns that used to pop up on TBS and TNT before becoming an endangered species in this Hollywood era.
Nonetheless, with crisp direction and dynamite performances, it’s undoubtedly 2023’s first offering for one of the 10 coveted slots for best picture at next year’s Oscars.
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