127: The Benaissance: Air (with Ursula Lawrence) (Patreon)

The comedy writer Ursula Lawrence returns to the podcast from Madison, Wisconsin for a discussion of the latest film from Ben Affleck as a director, Air, a film made by Amazon Studios that was so well-received when it screened at SXSW that it got picked up by Warner Bros. and fast-tracked into cinemas before its streaming premiere.

Air tells the story of how Nike landed a sponsorship deal with Michael Jordan before his rookie year in the NBA thanks to the efforts of talent scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) who has to convince CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) that Jordan is a once-in-a-generation talent worth risking everything on: they design a new shoe around him, at a time where the company was known more for its running shoes than for basketball. The Air Jordan line turned basketball shoes into fashion and transformed Nike into the biggest shoe company in the world.

So why is a hagiographic movie about corporate executives and star athletes making a fortune so much fun, even if you are on the left and understand the dark side of Nike’s legacy? It has to do with the current Benaissance: this is a movie made by a happy man that also serves as a mission statement for a new production company founded by Ben and Matt, Artists Equity, aiming to make entertainment that fairly compensates the creative talent, a film that like its superstar subject displays a relaxed confidence. The film’s unexpected use of basic semiotic theory and period detail make it crowd-pleasing entertainment that is destined to be a perennial Movie for Dads; comfort viewing that we’ll be watching on cable for years. Who knew the formerly Sad Affleck had it in him?

Plus: Ben speaking fluent Spanish, and former governor Scott Walker losing his mind as younger voters in Wisconsin reject the GOP!

Follow Ursula Lawrence on Twitter.

Trailer for Air (Ben Affleck, 2023)

Arthur Ashe commercial for Head tennis rackets, 1983

The Air Jordan commercial Nike produced after the NBA tried to ban the shoe from league play, 1985

“Air Exists Because One Underemployed Guy in His 20s Saw The Last Dance“ by Chris Lee, for Vulture, April 6, 2023