National Treasure

"National Treasure" is about a famous and much loved British comic actor, one half of a double act, a Morecambe or a Wise, a Cannon or a Ball perhaps, who is accused of the rape of an underage girl. It handles a deeply contentious subject very sensitively and it allays any fears in the first episode that it might be exploitative or in poor taste. It's beautifully acted; Robbie Coltrane is the accused man, the 'National Treasure' of the title, (this may be the best thing he's done since the TV series "Cracker"), but the real 'national treasure' here, of course, is Julie Walters, recipient of more BAFTA's than most of us have had hot dinners. As Coltrane's long-suffering wife she is simply magnificent. As a comic actress Walters can sometimes go off at the deep end but she underplays superbly here. Her grief and her rage are tangible and I fully expect her to pick up another BAFTA, and perhaps an Emmy, for her collection. This is a drama I approached with caution; now I am very glad I approached it at all.

National Treasure goes deep into the routes of sexual abuse and rape. Everything from the fighting to a simple tear that was shed had detail. Senses were focused on, the anxiety, the suspense, the craziness can all be felt in this show. The acting was well staged, it felt real and you could feel the pain of each actor. It's also before it's time. This was before the #MeToo movement but it gave insight to what life is like when elite men are accused of sexual misbehavior.

Doing a re-watch of visionary Marc Munden's filmography & "National Treasure" is still one of the most technically impressive shows Channel 4's ever made in its entire history; genuinely insane how high the production values look for a series which would've been nowhere near as expensive as it appears on screen. Boasts truly exceptional filmmaking & acts as an astonishing achievement for all the cast & crew involved.

Writer & creator Jack Thorne turns out some of his strongest scripts & the direction (coupled with Ole Bratt Birkeland's stunning cinematography) elevates them even further. Each & every episode's edited to perfection, scored beautifully by Cristobal Tapia De Veer & the performances are outstanding - especially from Julie Walters, who truly shines here. Aged like fine wine.

Seriously, does anyone do topical stuff better than Marc Munden? Can't think of one single superior alternative. Time after time, he tackles potentially controversial subject matter in such an audacious & unflinching way, without being exploitative / triggering. Strikes a phenomenal balance & remains respectful whilst doing justice to the horror of the subject matter featured. Remarkable.

Magnetic performances in a story about a charismatic performer with a complicated family life (to put it mildly). The two lead actors were mesmerizing in their interaction a a long-married couple with secrets and lies aplenty.

The script is smart and compelling -- addressing issues of man/woman relationships in serious situations involving control and secrecy. It's heart-wrenching at times and infuriating in others. Still, a magnificent collaboration between screenwriter, director, and actors. Highly recommend this for the discerning viewer.

Newspaper reviewers have predictably commented on the parallels between Jack Thorne's drama and the so-called "Operation Yewtree," in which major celebrities - the "national treasures" suggested by the title - were found to be serial abusers, or used their fame to exploit the vulnerable. The two central performances of Robbie Coltrane as Paul Finchley and Julie Walters as his wife have also received due recognition.

Yet Marc Munden's drama contains so many other brilliant aspects, that don't necessarily focus on the more salacious material but try to explore how and why Fınchley should behave as he did. What we understand from the celebrity and his wife is how narcissistic they are; despite their frequent protestations of love for one another, as well as for their daughter Dee (Andrea Riseborough), they are pathologically incapable of listening. Riseborough's characterization is profound; she does not speak much, but she has a way of looking at the ground, almost as if she cannot face the ordeal of communication, especially with her parents. There is one sequence in particular involving Marie and Dee that sums up the emotional disconnect between them; taking place in a bedroom during Dee's birthday party, Marie emphasizes quite vehemently that she wants her daughter to get better, without understanding in the least how she and her husband are the root cause of Dee's problems.

Munden's production is distinguished by memorable cinematography from Ole Bratt Birkeland. Birkeland is fond of long tracking shots, with the camera moving down lengthy corridors to discover the characters. As viewers, we feel we are eavesdropping on their private secrets - just like Peter and Marie, as they seek to find out what's "wrong" with Dee. Birkeland also uses lighting to reinforce the theme: during the birthday party Peter gives one of his windy speeches. As he does so, the camera tracks slowly to the left, revealing candles at the front of the frame, and after a few seconds settles on Dee, looking once again at the ground in embarrassment, her face obscured by yet more candled. Material things seem to matter more to Finchley - they can be easily controlled, and do not require him to empathize. The fact that Dee appears at the end of the shot emphasizes her insignificance.

Much of the action unfolds in a dream-like world of psychedelic greens, reds, and blues, drawing attention once more to the fantasy-world that Peter and Marie inhabit. Alternatively several sequences take place in darkened rooms, illumined by miserable spotlights; the perfect ambiance for anyone to behave inappropriately without fear of discovery.

Despite its pertinent subject-matter, NATIONAL TREASURE is not really about the abusive celebrity, but looks instead at the destructive ways in which parents - especially those who profess a blameless way of life - destroy their siblings, as well as others, through neglect, or by assuming that people will behave in certain preordained ways. The action unfolds slowly in a series of lengthy exchanges punctuated by occasional musical interludes (by Christobal Tapis de Veer, but remains compelling. This is one of the best dramas I have seen on any medium in the entire year.