Continuity mistake: When Amelia jumps in the water to save the the little girl there is tape on her mouth. A moment later, the tape is not visible.
The Bone Collector (1999)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker
The killer is Richard. Forensic expert, Lincoln Rhyme wrote an article years ago stating Marcus (Richard) planted evidence at a crime scene, for which he received six years in jail. He committed the murders and planted clues because he wanted to test how good a dectective Lincoln actually is. At the end, Richard kills Thelma and then goes after Lincoln. When Richard is about to stab Lincoln, who is a quadraplegic, Officer Amelia Donaghy arrives and shoots Richard.
More mistakes in The Bone Collector
Amelia: I can't do this.
Lincoln Rhyme: You can do it. Yes, you can. Yesterday you stopped a train. You can do anything you want when you put your mind to it.
Amelia: Don't work me, Rhyme... Just tell me what to do next.
Lincoln Rhyme: Very slowly... walk the grid... one foot in front of the other. I want you to look around you now. Remember... crime scenes are three-dimensional... floors, walls and ceilings.
Trivia: The Director, Phillip Noyce, makes a cameo appearance as the man in the bookstore.
Question: Can someone please help? When the killer shows up at Rhyme's place at the end, he explains to him why he did it and how Rhyme did him wrong, but no matter how many times I watch it, I don't understand what exactly happened and how Rhyme was to blame for it?
Chosen answer: The killer used to be a forensic scientist for law enforcement (where or when is never stated). Rhymes testified in court that evidence had been falsified, leading to wrongful prosecutions, the killer was sent to prison for this, where "every day I was brutalised". The killer blamed Rhymes for this, so set out to prove he was better by giving him a series of clues that he (in theory) couldn't solve. It should also be pointed out that Rhymes never met the killer or knew what he looked like.