The Undeniable Appeal of "Blue Chips"

Photo Credit: actors.pick2web.com

Once Andrew blogged yesterday about Rookie of the Year and other kids sports movies of our youth, I wanted to write a little something Blue Chips.  I know what you're thinking -- right era, but it ain't about kids.  And you're absolutely right, it's not a kids movie at all.  But tons of kids went to see it, including me at age 10.  And I loved it.  Still do.

Why is Blue Chips a great movie?  More than anything else, it’s great because no other sports flick provides such an authentic depiction of the game.  It’s great because it broaches real college basketball issues.  Father-son relationship between coach and player (Nick Nolte & Shaq)?  Check.  Academic struggles (Tony)?  Check.  Recruiting violations?  Point shaving?  Pressure from alumni boosters?  Check, check, and check.  Best of all, the movie used real basketball players as actors.  This really made the film feel authentic.  Bob Cousy as the wise AD?  Perfect.  Penny Hardaway as the slashing 2-guard?  Swish.  Shaq playing himself?  Money.  Bobby Knight, Jim Boeheim, and Rick Pitino as opposing coaches?  It just doesn’t get better than that.

The cameos don’t end.  Larry Bird as Pete’s unofficial scout and Dick Vitale as the ESPN color guy added to the “insider” feel to the film.  And if you look carefully, the movie is packed with real-life college stars.  Bobby Hurley, Calbert Cheaney, Chris Mills, and Rick Fox all appear as Western opponents.  The effect is profound: when game footage is shown, it looks like real-life game footage.  How many other sports movies can make that claim?

Photo Credit: pyleoflist.com

But really, it’s the emotional performances given by three key figures that make this movie memorable.  Nick Nolte is outstanding, of course, but there’s also Mary McConnell as Mrs. Pete Bell, as well as J.T. Walsh, who plays the booster scumbag (surprise!) who you love to hate.  Honestly, the best test for a sports movie is the number of times you say “NO WAY that happens in real life…only in Hollywood.”  Well, in this movie, you end up counting how many times you believe this stuff actually happens.  A new car for a stud center?  A bag of cash for a sharpshooter?  Totally believable.  And totally entertaining.