Alfre Woodard, Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway, Anthony C. Hall

Here's another smart sports movie penned by Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, White Men Can't Jump). It's an incriminating look at major college recruiting in the days of secret payoffs, circa t...( read more  read more... )he early 1990s. Coach Pete Bell (Nick Nolte) seems to be the only honest man left in sports, and the pressure to win at his UCLA-like school soon takes its toll. For action fans, the well-staged games are only at the bookends of the movie: the film is about scandalous recruiting and the passion of the coach. Shaquille O'Neal's ballyhooed debut is short and sweet as a nearly mythical basketball warrior. The biggest acting surprise is Boston Celtic legend Bob Cousy's deft debut as the school's AD. The film is a little too preachy at times, but the sermon is worth listening to, especially with some solid laughs from Shelton's stinging pen. Director William Friedkin's change-of-pace film would only be half the movie without Nolte, who is instantly believable as the workaholic coach. In game situations where opposing coaches are the likes of Bobby Knight (one of many excellent cameos), Nolte comes off as the real thing. --Doug Thomas

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55% liked it

6,574 ratings

PG-13

Directed by: William Friedkin

Release Date: February 18, 1994

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DVD Release Date: March 29, 2005

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Stats: 318 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (318)


  • October 23, 2007
    A garden-variety movie about a college basketball coach who lowers himself to using unethical methods to recruit new players.
  • September 16, 2007
    not worth it
  • May 17, 2007
    Great sports movie.
  • November 7, 2006
    Not too bad.
  • September 13, 2006
    Nolte puts in a good performance in this otherwise by-the-numbers sports flick.
  • August 15, 2009
    "Blue Chips" is one of my favorite basketball movies. I've seen it a few times and it still doesn't get old. A coach (Nick Nolte) that has always had a successful career as coach of Western University is facing the threat of his first ever losing season. He has to find a way to g...( read more)et his team back on a winning streak, even if it means finding new and better players.
    Nick Nolte does a spectacular job as the coach, but that's not the only reason that "Blue Chips" is such a realistic and great basketball movie. If you're familiar with NBA basketball, you'll see a lot of players that you know from today's game such as Penny Hardaway and Shaq. You'll also see other basketball legends such as Larry Bird and Bob Cousy. When it's gametime, it's as realistic as a movie can get. It has powerful coaching, spectacular defensive and offensive movies, the roaring crowd, and even the press conference after the game. "Blue Chips" has more drama in it than just about any basketball movie ever made.

    If you'd like to see a realistic basketball movie, I recommend getting "Blue Chips." It won't let you down. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. It's definitely one of the better basketball movies, and easily Shaq's best, although it doesn't really feature him.
  • July 21, 2009
    Si te gustan las peliculas de depòrte no defrauda. Excelente Nick Nolte
  • October 21, 2008
    Not a good movie, but JT saved it
  • July 30, 2008
    BLITHER BLITHER BLITHER!
  • June 14, 2008
    A minor sports classic

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Blue Chips Trivia


  • What was Shaquille O'Neal's first movie?  Answer »
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