Bone Collector, the

Police detective Lincoln Rhyme, (Denzel Washington is wonderful in this role - but isn't he always?), is considered to be THE genius of forensic science. His books on the subject are mandatory study at the Police Academy. During an investigation, four years before, Rhyme was involved in a terrible on-the-job accident which left him a quadriplegic and bedridden. Attached to life sustaining machines, he is only able to move one finger and his head and neck. He is subject to seizures that threaten to leave him a vegetable. A very angry man, he is bored and, at times, suicidal. Still an official member of the force, his former colleagues visit him constantly and involve him in difficult cases. A new, troubling case forces them to seek his help, yet again.

Rookie cop, Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie), works with the city's troubled youth. By chance she discovers the half-buried body of a powerful New York City businessman, near a railroad track. She, almost intuitively, knows what to do to protect the forensic evidence. Sending a witness off to buy a disposable camera, she takes photos of the crime scene before a rainstorm can wash away the evidence. She then, single-handedly, stops a train to preserve valuable clues. Rhyme decides she has natural forensic talent and demands she be placed on the case. So she reluctantly joins his team. Donaghy does the leg work, connected by a headset to Rhyme, while he instructs her. The two puzzle over clues and work the case from his bedside. And the leg work is brutally grim. This killer, intelligent and demented, thinks up some awful ways to commit murder. The crime scenes are elaborately set-up and clues are purposefully left that would stump the most avid puzzle addict. The gruesome crimes remind me of those in the movie "Seven."

The mystery is intriguing and the forensic work absolutely fascinates. The chemistry between Rhyme and Donaghy is palpable. This is more than a student-mentor bond, although it takes them a while to get the relationship off the ground. He is cranky and imperious - she is just plain ornery. Amelia brings him to life again and he stops contemplating euthanasia. In turn, he brings new energy to Amelia's life and forces her to open up. Queen Latifa (as Rhyme's nurse) and Luis Guzman (as a fellow cop ands friend) are show stealers.

This is no "Silence of the Lambs," but it is good entertainment. The camera gives the ambiance a dark and brooding look and provides some interesting angles. Often predictable, there are still surprises and the growing closeness between the detective and the cop is very well done and subtle. Although "The Bone Collector" is not a "must see," it is certainly an exciting way to spend a rainy night.

Denzel Washington, as usual, performs brilliantly in this film as he does in most films he stars in. I think that when I purchased and watched this particular movie some time ago that it had been the first film that I'd watched that had the ever beautiful and alluring Angelina Jolie in it. I hate to admit it but at that time and upon a second viewing now, her performance in this film is somewhat lackluster which, having watched several of her other movies, is somewhat disappointing, but then again, the role she's taken for this film may have had a lot to do with her performance as her character is a somewhat subdued character in the first place.

Director Phillip Noyce may best be known for such films as "Clear and Present Danger," "The Saint" and "Patriot Games" over this particular film but I would note that he most likely did the best with this film that he could considering the overall predictability of the script.

The Premise:

Denzel Washington plays Lincoln Rhyme, one of the best known forensics detectives who a few years earlier suffered an accident and is now bedridden and seriously considering suicide but for the help of his full time nurse Thelma who is played quite well by Queen Latifah. Angelina Jolie plays Amelia Donaghy who is a street cop that stumbles across a particularly gruesome crime scene and handles it quite admirably until the rest of New York's finest shows up. The detectives handling the case take the evidence to Lincoln for his opinion and he seeks Amelia's assistance in handling the case as he suddenly finds himself leading the entire investigation from his bed and there is a killer out there that continues to murder people and leaving clues...

What follows from there is a respectable thriller of a movie that does somewhat suffer at the hands of predictability which keeps it one notch below some of the bigger thrillers of the last few years. Despite the minor predictabilities I would still recommend this film to any and all who enjoy a "good" thriller. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

-Spotlight on Location
-Feature Commentary with Director Phillip Noyce
-Dolby and DTS Audio Tracks
-Production Notes
-Cast and Filmmakers
-Theatrical Trailer
-Universal Showcase
-DVD-ROM Features