The Bone Collector (1999)

Very disappointing...

best movie i've ever seen.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Great story, that keeps you on edge all the way through, I'm sure it will inspire to read all the Deaver books. A must see!

If you were to watch this film without reading the book you'd problem thing it was ok, but as I am a Lincoln Rymes fan I have read this book before I had seen it. It's terrible. The only thing that's the same as the book is Lincoln Rymes being paraysled every where but his neck up and one finger. And Amelia Donaghy is a police officer that helps him. The killer is a completely different person. The murder victims are all wrong. The aid is a woman and not a man. No where does it mention why Amelia was transferring or the fact the two leads start to develop feelings for each other. It's just awful. If you've read the book don't bother watching it.

Intriguing and a film to keep you thinking, that would be a fine way to describe "The Bone Collector".Denzel Washington has immense presence even when he spends the whole film just lying in a bed..., the guy is a crack-shot crime scene investigator who is world renowned, but Lincoln Rhyme is reduced to a shell of his former self being a quadriplegic and unable to leave the confines of his bed, under the watchful eye of his nurse Thelma, played by Queen Latifah.Contemplating assisted suicide, suddenly Lincoln hears the news about a killing spree going down in town and has to change his plans, along with a brilliant performance by Angelina Jolie playing young rookie cop, Amelia Donaghy, the duo team up, Lincoln being the brains and Amelia being the eyes and the legs, to track down and take down the serial killer."The Bone Collector" is enjoyable but also very shocking, it keeps you guessing until the final act when the mystery becomes unravelled, it's not what you think unless you're a very clever person, and the killer and primary motive will probably surprise you.A superb supporting cast only added to the sickening splendour of a very stomach churning story, headed up by the ever reliable Luis Guzman, playing Eddie Ortiz, one of Lincolns loyal servants..., the whole cast had a specific role to add something to the story, and the overall acting was one of the film's strongest points. Quaintly claustrophobic, the film gives an overall impression of uncomfortable tight spaces, no more so than Lincoln's dwelling which can get cramped when his whole team pack the place out during the middle portion of the film. The whole film is made to make you feel uneasy and uncomfortable, something that a lot of other films in this bracket fail to do, but "The Bone Collector" is gritty, slimy and very unpleasant..., the cinematographer and the whole production team did a marvellous job of visually personifying the desired feeling and bringing it perfectly onto the screen.Almost top marks for a very fine film, I'd certainly watch it again.

Despite its failure to impress the critics, "The Bone Collector" became a big box office success because of its intriguing plot, its likable characters and the public's continuing fascination with serial killers. Its plot, which was adapted from Jeffery Deaver's novel of the same name, features a cat and mouse game that involves a brilliant forensics expert and a sadistic serial killer who takes pleasure in taunting his pursuers by leaving clues at the scenes of his crimes As these clues provide leads to where and when the next murder will take place, the police find themselves in a constant race against time as they desperately try to discover the identity of the killer and bring his reign of terror to an end before any more people are needlessly killed.Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) is the forensics expert who, during his career with the NYPD, became highly respected for his ability to solve cases by using his exceptional skills. Having been bedridden for four years (since he was crippled by a beam that accidentally fell on him), his depression has grown so deep that he's started to arrange his own "final transition" with the aid of a friend who's agreed to assist with his suicide. Rhyme regularly suffers seizures and his greatest fear is that one of these will leave him in a vegetative state.Although he says that he only has the use of one finger, his shoulders and his brain, he also has some sophisticated computer equipment which he puts to good use in his work. Because of the high esteem in which he's held by the NYPD, he's been kept on the payroll and is regularly asked to help out on their more challenging cases. Just such a case arises when a patrol cop called Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) discovers a dead body buried under gravel beside some train tracks and collects various pieces of evidence that are lying nearby.When the evidence and Amelia are brought to Rhyme's Manhattan apartment, he's very impressed by the young street cop's work and insists that she should help him with his further investigations because she obviously has a natural instinct for forensics work. After overcoming her initial reluctance to pass up on the desk job that she's due to transfer to imminently, Rhyme and Amelia start to work together. Rhyme quickly deduces from the available evidence, the identity of the killer's next victim and the likely location of the murder. Amelia then assists by examining the site and acting as Rhyme's eyes and ears as he gives her instructions through her headset. Rhyme's deductions are proved to be correct and the evidence that Amelia collects at the crime scene, makes it evident that they're dealing with a serial killer and that he's following a set modus operandi. This continues until, chillingly, the evidence found at one of the crime scenes points to Rhyme being the next victim."The Bone Collector" is an entertaining psychological thriller that's particularly enjoyable because of its two main stars and the way in which they work together so well. Denzel Washington overcomes the problem of his character being permanently immobile by the sheer quality of his performance and Angelina Jolie, in her first starring role, makes the changes that Amelia goes through in her work and her relationship with Rhyme seem very natural and convincing. The supporting cast is also good with Luis Guzman providing most of the humour.