Blue Chips is the story of a fictitious college basketball team named Western University that illegally acquires some very talented basketball players from the high school ranks and goes on to some success in their first year at the college level!! The team and story is led by Coach Pete, played by veteran actor Nick Nolte (The Thin Red Line) who experiences his first losing season to start the movie and is determined not to have the same experience again. Coach Pete is supported by his ex-wife Jenny in the film, played nicely by Marry McDonnel, who is the guiding voice in his head trying to push him to do the right things socially in life. Despite Jenny's good advice, and the good advice of Vic, the school's athletic director and Pete's friend played by Boston Celtics legendary player Bob Cousy, Coach Pete goes and illegally recruits three of the best high school players in the nation bringing them out to Western determined to win his third national championship and the school's ninth national championship overall. One of the players that Coach Pete illegally recruits is Neon played by basketball Hall of Famer and former LA Laker Shaquille O'Neal. The other two players that were recruited to play for Coach Pete were former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway who played Butch in the film, and Matt Nover who played Ricky in the film. Western University did go on to some success with the three players on the court, but Coach Pete knew that what he was doing was wrong so at a winning press conference Coach Pete came clean and in a way absolved himself and his program of all sins before formal punishment later came to the University. Blue Chips is a really good film!! Nick Nolte gives a power house performance but then again Nolte gives 110% in whatever role he seems to be in even if it's a comedy role with Eddie Murphy.!! The basketball action in Blue Chips is very good and very believable and having other collegiate coaches of the day such as Coach Boeheim then of Syracuse, Coach Tarkanian then of UNLV, and coach Campanelli then of California in it makes the movie even more believable!! Western University is clearly based on UCLA color-wise and winning tradition-wise but the reputations of the two schools - even to this date - couldn't be farther from the truth. The games that Western play at are even at UCLA's home court Pauley Pavilion. Director William Friedkin did a fine job directing the movie bringing all of the different personalities together to make a cohesive movie. Jeff Beck, Jed Lieberman, and Nile Rodgers all combined nicely to bring a compelling score to this movie!! Bernie Pollack did a fine job costuming the different characters and athletes making them look very authentic!! Blue Chips received a PG-13 rating so parental guidance is suggested for the ones under 13. Blue Chips is a fun movie to see for the basketball fan still today!! 6 out of 10 stars!!
Review of Blue Chips
