Film Review: The Bone Collector

Director: Phillip Noyce

This 1999 thriller had disappeared deep into my memory banks and was only rekindled when I was given the original book of the same name by Jeffrey Deaver to read. Having quite enjoyed the book I thought I'd re-assess the film against the original text, as always with films some subplots are cut out and certain developments shelved to keep the running time low. But even with this the film felt rushed through the second half, the subtle nuances of the book and the impressive way that Deaver created the tension and threat were less implied. The serial killer felt more like a clever human being in the book, due to him narrating certain chapters without giving away any of the plot

Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) with Nurse Thelma (Queen Latifah) 

Police Officer Amelia Donaghy (Jolie) is called to investigate a hand sticking out of the ground by the railway tracks, she quickly realises its a dead body with the finger chiseled down to the bone. Tetraplegic forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) is put on the case but insists that Officer Donaghy stay on the case as well to work the crime scenes as a forensics expert due to her good instincts. After initial resistance she agrees as they work out where the next murder will be based on the clues left at the last murder by the killer in a race against time to save lives.

Even with certain parts of the book removed, the film felt rushed through the second half, the subtle nuances of the book and the impressive way that Deaver created the tension and threat were less implied. The serial killer felt more like a clever human being in the book, due to him narrating certain chapters without giving away any of the plot, as in the film he is a remote character who is barely visible except for one scene which made him less human and therefore less threatening.

Officer Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie)

The acting in the film is more than capable from the leads Jolie and Denzel, they both intriguingly portray the brittle but stubborn characters very well. The only thing lacking is the real panic and urgency that would be apparent from two people in charge of chasing down a serial killer before he claims another victim, its almost a detached and emotionless puzzle that they are solving not one involving real victims at times. In searching for a crime thriller you could do a lot better than The Bone Collector but you could also do a lot worse.

1.5/4 Formulaic and almost emotionless crime thriller