The Air Up There

The Air Up There
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Paul Michael Glaser
Produced by	Robert W. Cort; Ted Field; Rosalie Swedlin;
Written by	Max Apple
Starring	Kevin Bacon
Music by	David Newman
Cinematography	Dick Pope
Edited by	Michael A. Polakow
Production; company	Hollywood Pictures; Interscope Communications; PolyGram Filmed Entertainment; Nomura Babcock & Brown;
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures
Release date	January 7, 1994;
Running time	107 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$17 million
Box office	$21 million

The Air Up There is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Paul Michael Glaser and starring Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina with Yolanda Vazquez as Sister Susan.

Plot

Jimmy Dolan is a college basketball assistant coach who wants to find a new star for his team since he believes this will get him a promotion to head coach at the school. He sees a home video of a prospect named Saleh and travels to Kenya to recruit him. Upon arriving in this continent, Dolan finds himself confronted not only with the challenges of basketball but also with the challenges of adjusting to and learning how to live in the midst of a brand-new culture. Though Dolan is initially opposed by Saleh's father who is also the leader of the village, he later agrees to let his son play. Dolan and Saleh both teach each other life lessons before they take the court for one final game with everything on the line. One of the most dramatic scenes in the film involves the instruction of Saleh by Dolan regarding the "Jimmy Dolan Shake and Bake."

Cast

Kevin Bacon as Jimmy Dolan, a college basketball coach
Charles Gitonga Maina as Saleh, a basketball player from a village in Kenya
Yolanda Vazquez as Sister Susan
Winston Ntshona as Urudu
Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole as Nyaga
Sean McCann as Ray Fox
Dennis Patrick as Father O'Hara
Nigel Miguel as Halawi

Production

For scenes taking place in the United States, the film was shot in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Copps Coliseum stood in for the University's arena. Scenes in Africa were shot in Kenya and Hoedspruit, South Africa.[1]

Reception

The Air Up There received negative reviews from critics.[2] The Austin Chronicle mentions its "timeworn formula" and "cultural imperialism".[3] The New York Times review points to a plot similar to several other Disney movies.[4][5] The film holds a rating of 21% on Rotten Tomatoes from 28 reviews.[6]

Year-end lists

Dishonorable mention – John Hurley, Staten Island Advance[7]

References

"Internet Movie Database - Filming locations for The Air Up There". Retrieved 2008-12-20.
"MOVIE REVIEW : 'The Air Up There' Is Pretty Thin". Los Angeles Times. January 07, 1994|KENNETH TURAN |
"The Air Up There". The Austin Chronicle.
"The Air Up There (1993) Review/Film; Basketball As a Bridge Between 2 Cultures". New York Times. By JANET MASLIN January 7, 1994
Goff, Keli (May 4, 2014). "Can 'Belle' End Hollywood's Obsession with the White Savior?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_air_up_there_1994
Hurley, John (December 30, 1994). "Movie Industry Hit Highs and Lows in '94". Staten Island Advance. p. D11.

External links

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[hamfilm-1] "Internet Movie Database - Filming locations for The Air Up There". Retrieved 2008-12-20.

[2] "MOVIE REVIEW : 'The Air Up There' Is Pretty Thin". Los Angeles Times. January 07, 1994|KENNETH TURAN |

[3] "The Air Up There". The Austin Chronicle.

[4] "The Air Up There (1993) Review/Film; Basketball As a Bridge Between 2 Cultures". New York Times. By JANET MASLIN January 7, 1994

[goff-5] Goff, Keli (May 4, 2014). "Can 'Belle' End Hollywood's Obsession with the White Savior?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 14, 2014.

[6] ttp://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_air_up_there_1994

[7] Hurley, John (December 30, 1994). "Movie Industry Hit Highs and Lows in '94". Staten Island Advance. p. D11.