
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 19, 1994                   TAG: 9402190105
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 12   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`BLUE CHIPS' MISSES THE GOAL

As an examination of the hypocrisy behind big-time collegiate athletics, "Blue Chips" is about as effective as any feature film could hope to be. And with the presence of so many young pro basketball players (including George Lynch, all too briefly) it's remarkably realistic.

But as entertainment, it's poorly paced, unevenly acted and preachy. Writer Ron Shelton ("Bull Durham," "White Men Can't Jump") and director William Friedkin mix fact and fiction to tell the story of Pete Bell (Nick Nolte), a college coach who's coming off a disappointing year.

His opening harangue to his team sounds like a 2-year-old's tantrum and does nothing to endear him to the audience. No one could blame those kids for going out and losing. To reverse the fortunes of the Western University Dolphins, he has to decide how far he'll go. A sleazy alumnus (J.T. Walsh) is ready to arrange under-the-table payments wherever they're needed. Bell doesn't have to dirty his own hands. All he has to do is say yes.

The "blue chip" recruits are out there: a big center (Shaquille O'Neal) in New Orleans; a point guard (Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway) in Chicago; a forward (Matt Nover) in Indiana. It's not spoiling anything to reveal that they do wind up at W.U. and that the film ends with a game against Bobby Knight's Indiana team, with Duke's Bobby Hurley at guard!

To the filmmakers' credit, they break with the stereotypical sports movie conclusion, but in its place there's an impassioned sermonette followed by a trite postscript. Neither rings true. "Blue Chips" raises too many serious questions to be solved with any Hollywood ending.

The game footage looks good, but you can see better on television almost any evening at this time of year.

Blue Chips: **

A Paramount release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View Mall 6. 108 min. Rated PG-13 for strong language.

by CNB