Money Talks (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Sep 09, 2025
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
Brett RatnerRelease Date(s)
1997 (March 26, 2024)Studio(s)
New Line Cinema (Warner Archive Collection)- Film/Program Grade: B-
- Video Grade: B+
- Audio Grade: N/A
- Extras Grade: D-
Review
[Editor’s Note: Initial copies of this title carried a 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track, despite being advertised with a 5.1 option. The disc has since been repressed and all future purchases should contain the 5.1. However, if you’ve received a copy with the stereo track instead, you can request a replacement at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Be sure to include photos of the front and back of the release, the entire UPC code, your full name and home address, and a photo of your receipt.]
The 1990s and 2000s were very kind to Chris Tucker and Brett Ratner. Tucker had become a popular star with audiences due to his appearances in Friday and The Fifth Element, and Ratner would go on to make the Rush Hour films, later earning a reputation for being a director for hire who could be easily pushed around by the studios (among other much, much worse things). He and Tucker made four films together, including Rush Hour and its sequels, first collaborating on a feature with 1997’s lighthearted action comedy Money Talks.
Small-time hustler Franklin (Chris Tucker) operates out of a local car wash, barely evading the authorities and the mobsters that he owes money to. Investigative reporter James Russell (Charlie Sheen) gets Franklin arrested after he tips off his activities to the police. During his transport, he’s handcuffed to the deadly criminal Raymond Villard (Gerard Ismael), whereupon Villard escapes with Franklin in tow. Franklin is cut loose and framed for the deaths of several policemen, forcing him to turn to Russell for help. Distracted by his upcoming nuptials, Russell agrees to help Franklin clear his name in exchange for an exclusive story, but keeping Franklin’s mouth shut and avoiding two avid policemen (Paul Gleason and Daniel Roebuck) will be a challenge. Also among the cast are Heather Locklear, Elise Neal, Paul Sorvino, Veronica Cartwright, Larry Hankin, Michael Wright, Damian Chapa, Faizon Love, and David Warner.
One thing is clear: if you’re not a fan of Chris Tucker’s over-the-top comedic style and delivery, then Money Talks isn’t going to change your mind. That said, he’s used well enough here, only occasionally given moments in which his brand of repartee goes on a bit too long. There’s some decent charisma between Tucker and Sheen where the buddy comedy aspect of the story is concerned without feeling burdensome or long-winded. The action and thriller elements are executed sufficiently for the material at hand, though you never truly feel like the characters are in any kind of real danger. The film also looks good, nicely-shot by Russell Carpenter and Robert Primes, with plenty of stylistic touches thrown in for good measure. There’s certainly some moments that don’t hold up in today’s climate, including a gay panic/potential sexual assault scene, but at a breezy 96 minutes, Money Talks doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Money Talks was shot by cinematographers Russell Carpenter and Robert Primes on Super 35mm film with Panavision Panaflex Gold II and Panaflex Platinum cameras with Panavision Primo lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 2.39:1. The Warner Archive Collection debuts the film on Blu-ray with a dual-layered BD-50 and what appears to be a new 2K or 4K scan of the original camera negative (shots with subtitles or opticals appear to have been sourced from an interpositive). It’s a clean master with only a touch of natural celluloid softness and moderate grain. The bitrate usually sits between 35 and 40Mbps, tightening up detail dutifully with only a minor amount of noise, usually in the darker areas of the frame. Color and contrast are generally excellent, with a decent amount of detail in the shadows. The image is stable and organic, but a true 4K container could really iron out some of its lesser qualities.
Audio is included in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional subtitles in English SDH. Initial copies incorrectly used a stereo track but further pressings have corrected this error. If you purchased this release and it doesn’t contain a 5.1 track, you can request a replacement (see above). Since we don’t have access to that 5.1 track ourselves, we won’t bother with a rating. The stereo track works fine, but it’s not the intended audio. We’ll update this space when the corrected disc is made available to us.
The Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray release of Money Talks sits in a standard blue Amaray case with an insert featuring one of the film’s theatrical posters, which was also used for previous home video releases. Only a single extra is included in HD:
- Theatrical Trailer (2:25)
Many of the comedies from this era with this type of humor don’t necessarily hold up to modern scrutiny. Even if there are a couple of moments in Money Talks where that’s the case, it endures a little better than expected. Warner Archive’s Blu-ray upgrade can certainly put the ancient DVD release to bed, though it’s worth pointing out that some Region 2 DVD releases contained interviews, B-roll, and production notes. But just getting the film in high definition at all is reason enough to celebrate for fans.
- Tim Salmons
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