10 Best Movies Of 2023 (So Far)

10. Air

An origin story for a shoe doesn't sound like a recipe for a great movie, but as ever, it comes down to the script, the filmmaker, and the cast at the center. In all those areas, Air passes with flying colours.

Even if you don't give a damn about basketball or Michael Jordan's iconic Air Jordan shoes, there's plenty to enjoy in this witty, light-on-its-feet drama about how the shoe paved the way for athletes en masse to reap greater profits from their image.

Ben Affleck's direction isn't flashy but approximates the mid-'80s setting perfectly, while the ensemble cast - especially Matt Damon, Affleck, and Viola Davis - are terrific, and the earnest tone impressively avoids making the whole thing feel like mere capitalist back-patting.

As well as this movie plays to broad audiences, it goes without saying that sports fans and those who actually own some Air Jordans will especially eat this up like catnip.