Movie #120 - The Bone Collector

The Bone Collector
Universal Pictures
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Luis Guzman, Ed O'Neill

Before we really knew anything about Angelina Jolie, she was in this movie with quadrapalegic Denzel Washington and a pre-weight loss Queen Latifah.  Back then, I wasn't distracted by her and I could just enjoy this crime thriller and all its gorey glory.  Now, I watch this movie and I go, "Oh hey! It's Angelina Jolie! I forgot she was in this movie..."  And I'm all distracted by how young and pre-Lara Croft she is.  It's weird.

Anyway, I got over that after a few minutes and let myself enjoy the gore-fest.  Honestly, not that I'm complaining, but this movie does have some gratuitous blood and guts.  It's all good, cuz it is indeed a murder flick, but wow.  Yuck.  And also, awesome.

This one has a good twist ending, but you'll only enjoy that the first time you see it.  After that, you watch it and think how stupid you were not to catch on to who the murderer is... and that's as distracting as Jolie's lips.

Movie #105 - Chicago

Chicago
Miramax
2002 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 53 min
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Taye Diggs

Movies of musicals... what a refreshing revisit to the early cinematic triumphs of the 30s, 40s, and 50s :)  And Chicago, with all that jazz (pun intended), harkens back to those happier, more care-free, get-away-with-murder days.  But there's something dark about this movie version, dark but very appropriate.  They don't just burst into song, they live the song through repressed fantasies in their heads.  It seems more real this way, less Broadway-y and less Hollywood-y. 

My only regret is that Taye Diggs doesn't sing at all.  Hugely missed opportunity, if you ask me.