“I wouldn’t make a movie whose central premise is the appropriation of Black culture for profit by white Americans,” he said. In The Hollywood Reporter‘s current cover story profile of Affleck, the actor-director talked about the film and how he approached directing a film where corporate America intersects with Black culture. “I didn’t want to have any communication or contact or accept anything from Nike because I didn’t want to be accused of making propaganda or a commercial or altering anything in order to curry favor with them.” Still, it’s difficult to imagine Nike not being thrilled with the film’s extremely positive presentation of its company. That said, he said he avoided contact with Nike and its executives during the movie’s development and production. “I’ve been known to appear in an occasional meme.” “But people like to make fun of the boss, that’s part of workplace culture,” he said. I thought he was too majestic to have anyone impersonate him and – as I told him – ‘you’re too old to play the part.'”Īffleck said he showed the film to the real Phil Knight, “and halfway through I realized that might have been a gigantic mistake” given how the film somewhat satirizes the Nike co-founder. You will see him in the movie, but you will see Michael Jordan as he truly is – in his authentic masterful genius which exists for all of us to see. And there is no way I was ever going to ask an audience to believe that anybody other than Michael Jordan was Michael Jordan – which was also out of my own naked self interest, frankly, because I knew would destroy the movie. You touch them and just start to represent hope and excellence and greatness. “When you are that person, when you become so much more than a hero or an athlete or even an icon, you start to become an idea to people. “How do you tell a story about Michael Jordan and never see him?” he asked. In a rather bold creative choice, Jordan himself isn’t directly shown in the film, which Affleck explained was an effort to avoid having an actor impersonate a larger-than-life living legend with whom audiences were already so familiar. I’ll never think of Michael Jordan or Air Jordans the same way again because of what Ben was able to do with this film, and create that kind of feeling that we all just had.” They were somehow able to enhance what Michael Jordan means to all of us - which was already the zenith of greatness and excitement. “What Ben and Matt were able to do with this story…it’s an American business story and they made a rock show out of it. It was an honor to play Deloris.”īateman seemed stunned by the crowd’s reaction to the film, “I couldn’t believe the amount of screaming and the yelling ,” he said. So for her to have that big vision for her son, and to believe it wholeheartedly, is sort of miraculous. It’s the height of Black people being told that their dreams didn’t matter. “Deloris and my mom were born in a generation of people whose dreams were their kids. Ben and I - from the moment we read script to the last cut we made in the edit - it was just absolute joy.”ĭavis - whom Affleck called “the best actor I’ve ever seen” - spoke about what playing Jordan’s protective, business-savvy mother Deloris meant to her. “I showed up every day and had five-to-seven pages to do opposite actors like this, it was ridiculous,” Damon said. Affleck plays Nike CEO Phil Knight, and the film also stars Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Chris Messina.ĭamon called his role - and reunion with his “best friend” and longtime collaborator Affleck - “the greatest job I’ve ever had.” Air stars Matt Damon as the Nike executive who signed Michael Jordan to his first sneaker deal. Judging by the premiere audience’s reaction, Affleck need not be worried about its reception - the film and its cast full of scene stealers received a rapturous ovation. 'Joy Ride' Review: Ashley Park and Stephanie Hsu in a Raunchy, Rowdy Comedy With Genuine HeartĪffleck directed and co-stars in Air, a biographical drama chronicling Nike’s revolutionary creation of the Air Jordan shoeline. Viola Davis on Playing Michael Jordan's Mom in 'Air': "I Wanted to Know More About This Woman" 'Air' Review: Ben Affleck's Ode to Michael Jordan Is Affectionate and Involving, Even When It Fails to Convince So I can’t hide behind being an auteur - ‘you don’t need to understand my movie.’ I really hope you like it…. “This is an optimistic, hopeful movie about people. “Tonight is the most important night of my professional life,” Affleck declared from the stage, amid making some self-deprecating references to previous projects that were not widely popular.
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