THE BONE COLLECTOR
Washington is Lincoln Rhyme, a locally legendary investigator who was
injured on the job 4 years ago and left a paraplegic, but still collects
a paycheck because he can still use his mind. Having written several books
on how to dissect a crime scene, he lives with his nurse Thelma (Queen Latifah)
and uses the most state-of-the-art computer technology available to investigate
evidence found at homicides. Jolie is Amelia Donaghy, a street cop who runs
across a curious murder scene. A man has been buried near the train tracks
with his hand left uncovered, his index finger slashed to the bone and his
wife's wedding ring jammed onto it. Nearby, on the track, is a pile of sand,
an antique iron bolt, and a few small pieces of paper with cryptic printing
on them. Rhyme is called on to investigate the evidence, but because of
Dohaghy's ability to protect the scene so well, he insists that she be his
assistant on the case.
Since Donaghy's desire is to be assigned with youth services and not
as a homicide detective, she is nonplussed at his request. But he convinces
her to go along, and they soon learn the chilling truth. All the items found
at the site, when examined forensically, point to the date, time, and scene
of the killer's next murder. As they work together, with Donaghy acting
as Rhyme's eyes, ears, and legs, they uncover a string of murder scenes,
each with a carefully prepared collection of symbolic items. Soon they will
be able to predict where the murderer will strike next — they hope.
This is characteristically excellent work by Washington, although he
is once again playing the same flawless hero he always plays. Taking away
his ability to walk is an interesting choice; it forces him to act using
only his face, pushing the envelope of his considerable talent. Jolie is
quite believable as Donaghy; she goes from being skeptical and unenthusiastic
to learning the rewards of solving a complex case. Also present is Ed O'Neill
(Married With Children), who provides adequate support as Rhyme's
partner and aide, and H.R.H. Latifah shows again that her talent goes beyond
singing. On the other hand, Michael Rooker is eminently unconvincing as
the villainous Capt. Howard Cheney, who has no reason for being present
except to throw in some conflict and manufactured obstacles for Rhyme and
Dohaghy to overcome.
Director Noyce makes good use of the seamier side of the city, and of Dean Semler's cinematography (Dances With Wolves), as the team creeps through sewer systems and abandoned slaughterhouses from turn-of-the-century New York. Moreover, Craig Armstrong's beautiful musical score provides a nice counterpoint to the film's graphically disturbing subject matter. The Bone Collector's weakest point is its ending, in which not only is the main conflict stupidly resolved, but a sappy, quasi-romantic denouement is tacked on uncomfortably to an otherwise intelligent story. Still, it's worth a look for the fan of the tough-edged police mystery. ****