Lincoln Rhyme, (Denzel Washington), a brilliant New York police officer and criminologist, is devastatingly injured in an accident - four years later, he`s confined to bed in his spacious apartment, only able to function from the neck up, though he has the use of one finger. He`s contemplating suicide when he`s asked to help in the investigation of a case - a wealthy man and his wife have disappeared after hailing a taxi at the airport. The man`s body is found, in strange circumstances, by patrol woman Amelia Donaghy, Angelina Jolie, and Rhyme is so impressed with her powers of observation at the scene of the crime that he elevates her to be his eyes and ears during what proves to be an investigation of a particularly nasty serial killer.
Adapted from Jeffrey Deaver`s novel, The Bone Collector is a Seven -like thriller - a little morbid, a bit grisly. The intriguing element is the fact that the hero, like James Stewart in Rear Window, is confined to bed and has to use someone else to do the legwork, literally - but it`s hard to believe that the police force would stand by while an inexperienced and apparently untrained cop would be given a free hand to carry out a major investigation. Still, Denzel Washington impresses, as always, and Angelina Jolie reconfirms her up and coming status. Phillip Noyce does an excellent job of direction and works brilliantly with cinematographer Dean Semler to create an eerie mood - and most audiences will be on the edges of their seats as the climax draws near.
