"Air" succeeds with its all-star cast!

Take a step back to 1984, when the neon outfits reigned supreme, hairstyles were taller, the basketball world was dominated by Converse, and Nike was a struggling jogging shoe company. This is where we begin our journey in director/co-star Ben Affleck and writer Alex Convery's Air: Courting a Legend. 

Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a self-proclaimed basketball guru, is hired by Nike CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) to head up the specialty basketball division. We see the tenaciousness of Vaccaro—with Damon expertly playing the unlikely hero and offering a lovable glimmer of optimism—as he struggles to convince Knight to go all in on Michael Jordan as they compete with the likes of A.D.I.D.A.S and Converse. He bets on his job, other employees' jobs, and the basketball division on his crazy idea. And as an audience member, you stay enthralled throughout the entire story.

One of the best artistic choices Air could have made was never to show the actor playing Jordan's face, only from behind or silhouettes. This not only doesn't alter or change our perception of the basketball legend, but it amplifies his persona to something even higher. We're not distracted by an actor playing Jordan; he is Jordan.

It also helps when you've got an all-star cast to round out your story. Between supporting actors Viola Davis (Deloris Jordan), Jason Bateman (Rob Strasser), and Chris Messina (David Falk), you're given earnest and heartfelt performances across the board. They all excel in their given roles, and then some—particularly Davis. She quickly became my favorite character on screen, and it's a shame we only saw her in small bursts, but she made the most of the time she was given.

Air is an entertaining sports dramedy that accomplishes exactly what it set out to do. The focus isn't on the shoe, but instead on the people behind it.

Air is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Air Official Trailer