Roger Ebert , reviewing the film for the '' Chicago Sun-Times '' , awarded it three out of four stars , saying it " moves smoothly and with visual style and verbal wit . " Janet Maslin , reviewer for '' The New York Times '' considered '' Con Air '' an exemplar of the " thrill ride genre . " In contrast , '' Rolling Stone '' reviewer Peter Travers decried the " flip , hip " and ultimately , " depressing ... pandering " present in the treatment . Andrew Johnston , reviewer for '' Time Out New York '' , stated : " Leaving '' The Rock '' last summer , I thought it seemed physically impossible for a more over-the-top action movie to be made . That was pretty short-sighted of me , since it was only a matter of time until producer Jerry Bruckheimer topped himself as he does with the wildly entertaining '' Con Air '' . " '' Con Air '' was nominated for Best Original Song ( for " How Do I Live " ) and Best Sound ( Kevin O'Connell , Greg P. Russell and Art Rochester ) at the 70th Academy Awards , but lost to '' Titanic '' in both categories
70th Academy Awards
70th Academy Awards
Con Air