Ben Affleck's latest dream spin-off "Air" received rave reviews at South by Southwest on Saturday.
Early reviews have been favorable to the film, which tells the story of how a fledgling Michael Jordan teamed up with Nike on its flagship Air Jordan shoe line. Affleck directed, produced, and played Phil Knight, CEO of Nike.
"It was the happiest professional experience," Affleck told Austin-Statesman, part of the USA TODAY Network, on the red carpet before the film's opening on the closing night of the Austin Film Festival. "There's magic there, and it's probably Michael Jordan, you know. All my life as a director, I thought if I could get Viola Davis in my film, I would."
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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reunited on the red carpet at SXSW
The SXSW premiere reunited Affleck with his friend (and Good Will Hunting co-star and scriptwriter) Matt Damon, who played Sonny Vaccaro, the Nike manager who convinces Knight to try Air Jordan. They were joined on the red carpet by Davis and husband, Julius Tennon (who plays Jordan's parents Delores and James Jordan), and actors Jason Bateman, Chris Tracker, and Chris Messina.
"That was the generation where your children were your dreams," Davis said of Delores Jordan. For many years people in the black community were not allowed to dream because we had no choice. So she is a woman who believes in education, but she believes in taking the opportunities her son has in the NBA and bringing out the best in these amazing human beings.
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What critics have to say about Michael Jordan's new Ben Affleck film:
Reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, both on social media and in film reviews:
"Entertaining, hilarious, hopeful and the best film of the year so far," tweeted The Hollywood Handle.
"The film, miraculously, applies the poetic reverence usually reserved for depictions of sports in such dramas to the shoe designing process," art and culture critic Luvia Gyarky wrote in her review for The Hollywood Reporter. "No slam dunks, but enough points."
Variety critic Peter Debruge praised Davis' film choice: "The smartest thing Affleck could have done to win the EGOT title was do what Jordan excels in sports: his strength inspires us and can make us cry." he wrote. Please review.
"Affleck and Damon's chemistry is as clear as ever. Viola is amazing. Ben is getting ready to be a phenotypical director," wrote Reel Movie Junkie.
"Very good AIR script," tweeted SXSW programmer Peter Hall. "It's a pleasure to see such an iconic actor sing every exchange, and Affleck's impeccable directing ensures that no moment or role is wasted or under-delivered."
"Drive, Risk Fun, Confidence, Confidence and Family Mobilization!" Film critic Scott Mantz of MovieMantz.com tweeted.
Air opens in theaters April 5 and will premiere on Amazon Prime Video at a later date.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ben Affleck's Michael Jordan biopic 'Air' pays tribute to SXSW: 'Movie of the year'
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