Air (2023)
95%RT Audience Score: 98%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Air, the latest film from director Ben Affleck, has been met with mixed reviews from critics. While some praise the exceptional script and cast, others find the film to be lacking in meaningful critique of society. However, one thing that cannot be denied is the effortlessly entertaining nature of the film. It’s a ground level, perfectly paced, and quietly inspirational movie that will knock you on your ass by the end. Matt Damon and Viola Davis deliver Oscar caliber work, and Affleck further cements himself as one of our greatest directors. A shoe may just be a shoe until someone steps into it, but Air steps up to the challenge and delivers a Triple Double of a film.
“Air” is like a slam dunk that hits the rim and bounces out. While it has its moments of charm and inspiration, it ultimately falls short of being a truly great sports movie. The cast, led by Matt Damon and Viola Davis, deliver solid performances, but the film’s attempts at social commentary feel forced and disingenuous. Still, if you’re a fan of underdog stories and ’90s nostalgia, “Air” might just be worth a watch. Just don’t expect it to be a game-changer.
Production Company(ies)
Amazon Studios, Mandalay Pictures, Skydance Media
Distributor
Amazon Studios
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Santa Monica, California, United States; Los Angeles, California, United States; Los Angeles Thirty Mile Zone, California, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2023
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 52m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 5, 2023 Wide
Genre(s)
Drama/Sports
Keyword(s)
starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Chris Messina, Gustaf Skarsgård, directed by Ben Affleck, written by Alex Convery, drama, sports, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Wendy Ide, Bob Mondello, Donald Clarke, Maxwell Rabb, Kevin Maher, Liz Shannon Miller, John Rocha, Stephen Silver, T.J Callahan, Anthony Morris, Dennis Schwartz, produced by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, Jason Michael Berman, MPAA rating R, Michael Jordan, Nike, Air Jordan brand, basketball, game-changing partnership, rookie, mother, underdog shoe company, marketing triumph, contemporary culture, career-defining gamble, unconventional team, worth, immense talent, greatest of all time, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1)
Worldwide gross: $88,101,640
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $52,001,640
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $25,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,227
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,462,500
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ben Affleck – Phil Knight
Jason Bateman – Rob Strasser
Viola Davis – Deloris Jordan
Chris Messina – David Falk
Gustaf Skarsgård – Horst Dassler
Director – Ben Affleck
Producers – Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, Jason Michael Berman
Writer – Alex Convery
Director(s)
Ben Affleck
Writer(s)
Alex Convery
Producer(s)
Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, Jason Michael Berman
Film Festivals
South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (235) | Top Critics (69) | Fresh (216) | Rotten (19)
For all its affable charm, there’s something slippery and disingenuous about this film.
April 9, 2023 | Rating: 2/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
“Air” is effortlessly entertaining, but it wants to be about more than just the marketing triumph of an underdog shoe company.
April 9, 2023
Bob Mondello
NPR
TOP CRITIC
The film certainly invites fists to be pumped in celebration. It is less certain Air offers any meaningful critique of the society that gave us the sacred gutty.
April 7, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Affleck’s return to the director’s chair is an exceptional success, stimulated by its script and cast.
April 7, 2023
Maxwell Rabb
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The decision to deny Jordan a character presence… conspicuously muzzles a pivotal character and it’s clumsily out of step with a movie that is otherwise the definition of carefully considered, precisely told, error-free film-making.
April 7, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
As much as we can talk about the thematic resonance of Air, its impact is dependent on your personal connection to Michael Jordan. It’s like going to church as an atheist — you might be able to follow the story, but its meaning is lost.
April 7, 2023 | Rating: B-
Liz Shannon Miller
Consequence
TOP CRITIC
AIR is one of those ground level, perfectly paced, and quietly inspirational movies that will knock you on your ass by the end. Matt Damon and Viola Davis deliver Oscar caliber work and Ben Affleck further cements himself as one of our greatest directors!
April 10, 2023 | Rating: 4.5
John Rocha
The Outlaw Nation (Youtube)
An entertaining crowd-pleaser, with a cool period look and convincing performances by good actors playing, for the most part, well-known people.
April 10, 2023 | Rating: 4.5/5
Stephen Silver
Splice Today
A shoe is just a shoe until someone steps into it. A little ol sneaker company in Oregon was out to change that. Air is a Triple Double of a film.
April 9, 2023
T.J. Callahan
AWFJ.org
This is a subdued return to directing for Affleck, and while the small scale helps the story – these guys really do feel like underdogs – this isn’t a tale of sports excellence: these are marketing guys putting together a deal, and the winner is money.
April 9, 2023
Anthony Morris
It’s Better in the Dark
A fluff sports marketing drama that scores only when shooting uncontested layups.
April 9, 2023 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
If Air wasn’t an R-rated comedy, it would probably be a Hallmark channel movie. The story, however, is what keeps it compelling and entertaining the whole way through.
April 9, 2023
Korey Coleman
Double Toasted…
Plot
AIR is a drama/sports film directed by Ben Affleck that tells the story of the partnership between Michael Jordan and Nike’s basketball division, which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises the “effortlessly entertaining” performances of Matt Damon and Viola Davis in Air.
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