Product Details

• Actors: Nick Nolte, Mary McDonnell, J.T. Walsh, Ed O'Neill, Alfre Woodard
• Directors: William Friedkin
• Writers: Ron Shelton
• Producers: Catherine Meyers, Michele Rappaport, Ron Shelton, Wolfgang Glattes
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: March 4, 1997
• Run Time: 108 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303152759
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,733 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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 the 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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best basketball movies ever made, September 9, 2000

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Chips [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining look at college basketball recruiting, December 21, 1999

By 

Andrew (Elkins Park) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Chips [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Nick Nolte plays an explosive, but caring college basketball coach who's career is on the decline due to recruiting problems. Nolte decides to lose his ethics and give recruits money, cars, houses, etc. to get them to come to his school. A serious sports movie without the usual fairytale ending. The basketball action is exciting and realistic because most of it is played by real NBA stars, like Shaq, Penny Hardaway, Allan Houston, George Lynch and many others. Bob Cousy is better than expected as the athletic director who doesn't miss foul shots.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Hoosiers Imitator, February 5, 2003

By 

Haitianlover (Tallahassee, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Chips [VHS] (VHS Tape)

We sure do make a lot of sports movies in the US, and this is one of the better ones, not as good as Hoosiers, but then again who could touch Gene Hackman in his prime, right? What I like about this one is the somewhat stiff performances by Shaq and Anfernee Hardaway, which add "something" of reality to the film. Really. The other good thing is Nick Nolte. He played his part to the hilt. He sold his soul to the devil (he cheated), but then he redeemed himself. The scene with him teaching the kids at the playground the fundamentals is a classy and classic ending. Excellent movie. It's not as emotionally exhilerating as Hoosiers, but that's another story, right?