Blue Chips

1994

Blue Chips

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

37%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 27

51%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,827
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Blue Chips Photos

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Movie Info

Winning is everything, even if you have to lie, and cheat to do it. That is the under-lying message of this dramatic expose of college basketball recruiters. Up till recently, Pete Bell has been a winning coach for Western U's basketball team. But this year has been different. The film opens with the coach ripping into the team for another dreadful game. Bell knows that if his team continues to lose, he will lose his job. He has no choice but to recruit more talent. He begins his search for better players and finds three good prospects: Chicago player Butch McRae, an accurate shooter; Ricky, an enormously tall boy form French Lick, Indiana; and Neon, a temperamental giant. Together these three offer unbeatable potential if he can get them to come to Western. But it's not easy. The first two make exorbitant demands involving a lot of cash, new homes, and farm equipment. Neon asks for nothing but gets a new luxury car. Coach Pete is already dealing with allegations of shadiness and does not want to give in, but he is forced to by the alumni organization leader. Pete does not cope well.
  • Rating:
    PG-13
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    William Friedkin
  • Written By:
    Ron Shelton
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Paramount Home Video

Cast

Nick Nolte
as Pete Bell
Mary McDonnell
as Jenny
J.T. Walsh
as Happy
Ed O'Neill
as Ed
Alfre Woodard
as Lavada McRae
Bob Cousy
as Vic Roker
Shaquille O'Neal
as Neon Bodeaux
Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway
as Butch McRae
Matt Nover
as Ricky Roe
Cylk Cozart
as Slick
Anthony C. Hall
as Tony
Kevin Benton
as Jack
Bill Cross
as Freddie
Robert Wuhl
as Marty Rappa
Louis Gossett Jr.
as Father Dawkins
Marques Johnson
as Mel
Bobby Knight
as Himself
Louis DiGiaimo
Rick Pitino
as Himself
George Raveling
as Himself
Michael Butler
as Dolphin
Sam Armato
as Lecturer
Larry Bird
as Himself
Nigel Miguel
as Dolphin
Kevin Walker
as Dolphin
Steve Guild
as Dolphin
Mitchell Butler
as Dolphin
Ricky Collier
as Dolphin
Thomas Hill
as The Coast Team
Phil Glenn
as Dolphin
Sam Crawford
as The Texas Western Team
Dwayne Hackett
as Dolphin
Byron Jenson
as Dolphin
Richard Petruska
as Dolphin
Dennis Tracey
as Dolphin
Sean Williams
as Dolphin
Jim Beaver
as Ricky's Father
Debbie Young
as Ricky's Mother
Tony Gonzalez
as Dolphin Mascot
Todd Donoho
as Himself
Dick Vitale
as Himself
Frank Anthony Rossi
as Charlie
Qiana Petty
as McRae Daughter
Alicia N. Jones
as McRae Daughter
Britney Mitchell
as McRae Daughter
Dorothy McCann
as Grandmother
Allan Malamud
as Reporter
Siv Svendsen
as Herself
Wayne K. LeBeaux
as Equipment Manager
D. Eric Harmon
as Referee
James Jackson
as Man with Lexus
Michael Johnson
as Cash Man
Mark Murray
as Restaurant Sports Fan
Andre L. Jones
as Restaurant Sports Fan
Gary Vitti
as Trainer
Jim Boeheim
as Himself
Dick Baker
as Himself
Marty Blake
as Himself
Lou Campanelli
as Himself
Jerry Tarkanian
as Himself
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Critic Reviews for Blue Chips

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (17)

  • A deafness-inducing but otherwise ho-hum would-be expose of shady recruiting practices by college basketball programs.

    Mar 25, 2008

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Not even an unsentimental basketball fan like director William Friedkin can wash away all the corn syrup.

    Mar 25, 2008 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • This hard-hitting college basketball drama marks a notable return to form for William Friedkin.

    Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • If 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.

    May 20, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5

    Janet Maslin

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Desson Thomson

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Hal Hinson

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (27)

Audience Reviews for Blue Chips

  • Apr 28, 2018
    one of the better sporting movies it seems. with a superb performance from nick nolte this movie shows you that doing everything you can to win ultimately means you may lose overall.
    Ian W Super Reviewer
  • Aug 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 get 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.
    Jason O Super Reviewer
  • Apr 27, 2008
    Bob Cousy shooting free throws is reason enough for three stars. The other one is for Nick Nolte and Shaq.
    Tim S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 23, 2007
    A garden-variety movie about a college basketball coach who lowers himself to using unethical methods to recruit new players.
    Ida K Super Reviewer
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