The Bone Collector (1999) 2 1/2 stars out of 4. Starring Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker and Luis Guzman. Directed by Phillip Noyce.
In "The Bone Collector," the murder mystery is ludicrious, the killer is a wimp and the finale is preposterous.
So, why am I recommending this movie?
Simple: Denzel Washington and a strong supporting cast.
Washington plays Lincoln Rhyme, a legendary NYPD forensics expert, now bed-ridden after a near fatal accident that cost him the use of his arms and legs.
Rhyme is a man afraid. His mind works like a precision timepiece, but his body is failing him. Seizures are growing more violent and any day one could put him into a permanent vegetative state.
Rhyme's only wish is to end life on his terms, with dignity.
But then Rhyme's is given a reason to continue. A series of grisly murders are being perpetrated by an unknown killer who is leaving cryptic clues at the crime scenes. The only person who can interpret them is Rhyme.
The best sequences of "The Bone Collector", directed by Phillip Noyce ("Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger") are those set in Rhyme's apartment where his former forensics team sets up shop to be his arms and legs.
Added to this group is Angela Donaghy (Angelina Jolie), a street-smart cop who comes to Rhyme's attention after she stops a train to prevent it from rumbling over a crime scene.
Rhyme believes Donaghy has a natural-born gift for forensics and she becomes his eyes at the various crime scenes.
The interplay between Denzel Washington's Rhyme, Jolie's Donaghy and the various members of the team, most notably character actor Luis Guzman ("Boogie Nights," HBO's "Oz") and Queen Latifah as Rhyme's compassionate nurse, is the spine of "The Bone Collector."
Where the movie, based on a best-selling novel by Jeffrey Deaver and adapted by Jeremy Iacone, is weakest is in dealing with the killings.
In retrospect they are too intricate, too thorough to have been carried out by the character finally revealed to be the mad killer. His motivations are implausible and his final confrontation with Rhyme borders on the improbable.
"The Bone Collector" even falls back on the hoariest of cliches, the villainous explanation. That is when the bad guy has the hero in his clutches and all he has to do is shoot him. But, no, the villain gloats and begins giving a long spiel about how smart he is, how he manipulated the hero and why our hero is reponsible for our killer's murderous rampage.
Of course, all this does is allow one or more of the hero's compatriots to arrive on the scene in the nick of time to save him.
You'd think this device had been used in enough films that the villain would know better.
Another inexcusable cliche is the arrogant, self-important, inept police superior who thinks he is smarter than the hero. Here, he is played by Michael Rooker, a fine character actor reduced to a shouting, stomping stereotype.
Despite these shortcomings, "The Bone Collector" is an enjoyable, albiet gruesome, excursion. It's a funhouse experience that will offer some goose bumps. Washington and Jolie create sparks, and both give potent performances.
Washington, especially, confined to a bed portrays a man who wants to live - or die - by his own precepts.
Just ignore the flimsy finale and savor the first 100 minutes. "The Bone Collector" won't disappoint.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at bloom@journal-courier.com or at cbloom@iquest.net
The review above was posted to the
rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup (de.rec.film.kritiken for German reviews).
The Internet Movie Database accepts no responsibility for the contents of the
review and has no editorial control. Unless stated otherwise, the copyright
belongs to the author.
Please direct comments/criticisms of the review to relevant newsgroups.
Broken URLs inthe reviews are the responsibility of the author.
The formatting of the review is likely to differ from the original due
to ASCII to HTML conversion.
Related links: index of all rec.arts.movies.reviews reviews