Blue Chips (1994)
Average Rating: 5.1/10
Reviews Counted: 27
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 17
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 6
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 7,548
My Rating
Movie Info
Blue Chips examines greed, cheating, and "winning at all costs" in the world of college basketball. Nick Nolte plays the stressed-out coach on the verge of his first losing season, who hits the road in search of new players not already signed by a bigger school. He finds three prospects: a precision Chicago shooter (Anfernee Hardaway), a giant farmboy (Matt Nover), and a talented troublemaker (Shaquille O'Neal). All three, wise to the ways of college basketball recruitment, make excessive
Feb 18, 1994 Wide
Mar 29, 2005
Paramount Home Video
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Nick Nolte
Pete Bell -
Mary McDonnell
Jenny -
J.T. Walsh
Happy -
Ed O'Neill
Ed -
Alfre Woodard
Lavada McRae -
Bob Cousy
Vic -
Louis Gossett Jr
Father Dawkins -
Shaquille O'Neal
Neon -
-
Matt Nover
Ricky -
Cylk Cozart
Slick -
Anthony C. Hall
Tony -
Kevin Benton
Jack -
Bill Cross
Freddie -
Marques Johnson
Mel -
Robert Wuhl
Marty -
Jim Beaver
Ricky's Father -
-
Sam Crawford
The Texas Western Team -
Thomas Hill
The Coast Team -
Allan Malamud
Reporter -
Nigel Miguel
Dolphin -
Jerry Tarkanian
Himself -
Dick Vitale
Himself -
Bobby Knight
Himself -
Tony Gonzalez
Dolphin Mascot -
-
Michael Johnson
Cash Man -
Michael Butler
Dolphin -
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Blue Chips Trailer & Photos
All Critics (27) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (17) | DVD (8)
A deafness-inducing but otherwise ho-hum would-be expose of shady recruiting practices by college basketball programs.
Not even an unsentimental basketball fan like director William Friedkin can wash away all the corn syrup.
This hard-hitting college basketball drama marks a notable return to form for William Friedkin.
Top CriticIf Mr. Friedkin didn't have to work so strenuously framing two-shots of Mr. Nolte with this seven-foot athlete, it might be hard to remember that Mr. O'Neal has a day job.
The filmmakers don't get the ball into the Shaq-man's hands enough -- both literally and figuratively -- to make this personable giant's screen debut memorable.
If it wasn't for some exciting roundball action, Shaquille O'Neal's hulking-dunking presence and a wonderfully guttural performance from coach Nick Nolte, you'd slither off the bench asleep.
Watching various hoop stars and legends trying to act is cringeworthy, O'Neal particularly bad, but Friedkin's movie, written by sports film specialist Shelton has a lot of passion.
A good concept fails to become a good movie in this predictable tale of corruption in college basketball.
[An] effective, if overlong basketball drama.
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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.