At first it sounds like a trite, tried typical premise. Experienced, expert detective works with younger protege to solve mystery murders. We saw it done superbly in Seven with Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. What makes The Bone Collector different from the other versions of this particular plot is a device we haven't seen in a detective film before. Writers Jeffrey Deaver (author of the novel on which the film is based) and Jeremy Iacone have put Denzel Washington's "Lincoln Rhyme" flat on his back, a quadripelegic who only has one working finger, along with his shoulders and face. Denzel Washingon, acting without being able to use his physicality. Now this is a tall, vibrant, athletic man who has used his ability to move as part of some really good performances in drama and action films. As Lieutenant Parker Barnes in Virtuosity, without his athleticism, the performance would have been impossible.

In spite of this, it works. Washington is right on the money as the bed-ridden cop, still on the payroll, whose expertise is sought out to help deal with a serial killer. Able to move almost no part of his body, he still gives a strong, compelling performance here. Angelina Jolie (Gia, Playing by Heart, Pushing Tin) who is still only 24 years old, continues to improve on her body of work as Amelia Donaghy, the young street cop who is the first officer on the scene of the first murder. Her excellent work in preserving the crime scene and recording it on a disposable camera brings her to the attention of Rhyme and he recruits her to be his arms and legs in doing the forensic evidence gathering that will be needed to solve this mystery.

A "whodunnit" doesn't have to completely fool you about the identity of the perpetrator, as long as you aren't clearly convinced who it is long before the ending. We get several potential suspects, and the identity of the killer is well hidden by his or her own attire and the excellent dark, grey filmmaking of director Phillip Noyce. Noyce, who is best known for bringing Tom Clancy novels to the big screen (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) manages to ratchet up the tension here in the right places, although the pacing can drag a bit when the film is exploring the backstory elements.

Those backstory elements aren't bad either, usually a flaw of this type of mystery. The writers have given us two main characters who are not just sympathetic, but who the audience can easily care for them. The film is helped by strong performances in the supporting roles, including Ed O'Neill as a hard-boiled detective, Michael Rooker as an overbearing publicity hound of a superior officer cop and Queen Latifah as the nurse who cares for Rhyme in his home.

There are elements of gore, but they are minimized to some extent, so the faint of heart can handle this. There are also a few terrifying moments, but Noyce manages to cut away from them at just the right moment to keep them from being either too gory, or just overdone. In all, a very enjoyable movie experience.