Critics weren’t exactly wowed by The Bone Collector, but for Angelina Jolie, the film left a lasting impact — in more ways than one.
Following the massive success of Seven (1995), every studio was eager to create its own serial killer thriller.
Universal Pictures answered the demand with The Bone Collector, based on Jeffery Deaver’s 1997 crime novel. The film featured a star-studded cast, including Oscar winners Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington, alongside Oscar nominee Queen Latifah.
Set on the gritty streets of New York City, the film follows brilliant but quadriplegic homicide detective Lincoln Rhyme, played by Denzel Washington. Despite being paralyzed from the neck down, his sharp mind makes him essential in solving the city’s most twisted murders.
Alongside him is newly recruited patrol officer Amelia, played by Angelina Jolie. Eager but inexperienced, she teams up with Lincoln as they investigate a chilling string of homicides. As they race against time, the city becomes a maze of danger and deception.
It’s said that when Angelina Jolie first read the script for The Bone Collector, she was completely captivated. She later recalled sitting alone in her apartment, unable to put the script down.
“It scared me to death,” she once confessed. “I couldn’t stop reading it, and when I finally put it down, I couldn’t forget about it. It haunted me.”
One of the film’s most unique elements was the complexity of Denzel Washington’s character, Lincoln Rhyme.
As a quadriplegic detective, Lincoln relies entirely on Amelia to carry out field investigations while he guides her through the case from his bed. This created a unique emotional tension between the two characters.
“A huge turn-on”
Unlike most films where romance builds through physical chemistry, the connection between Lincoln and Amelia was rooted in emotional and intellectual intimacy.
With Lincoln unable to physically act on his feelings, their bond developed through conversation, trust, and mutual understanding — creating a subtle but powerful connection that went beyond traditional romance.
Shortly after the film’s release, Angelina Jolie spoke to Dark Horizons about Amelia’s relationship with Lincoln. She explained that the idea of “seducing someone with your mind” was, in her words, “a huge turn-on.”
“What’s fascinating are the journeys these two characters undertake, and the deep relationship that evolves between them,” she said.
One particular scene, where Amelia uses both her intellect and sense of smell to seduce Lincoln, especially stood out to Jolie. She even jokingly described it as “the best sex I ever had.”
Felt really lonely
What Angelina appeared to be referring to was the deep mental and emotional intimacy she and Denzel created through their performances.
While the two never had a romantic relationship in real life, the bond they developed on screen clearly left a strong impression on Jolie. It wasn’t physical, but the emotional closeness between their characters felt incredibly real.
Still, filming The Bone Collector came with challenges. Jolie admitted the experience often felt “really lonely,” leading to moments of self-doubt.
“It was really lonely and I went a bit nuts,” she explained. “From the beginning, I felt as if I was not capable of doing this, of leading a film and being responsible for this, of physically handling this, of saving a life and going in there and being a cop.”
She also revealed that the role affected her mentally.
“It nearly drove me insane because she [Amelia] was so insane inside.”
A sequel in the making?
The film premiered on November 5, 1999. Although reviews were mixed, The Bone Collector still earned an impressive $151.5 million worldwide against a $48 million budget.
Then, in June 2023, reports surfaced claiming a sequel could be in development, with both Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie potentially returning to reprise their iconic roles.
It would certainly be exciting to see these two Hollywood stars reunite, especially considering the unforgettable chemistry they created on screen more than two decades ago.
