Buried Treasure (2001) Reviews

• Not half bad

  JesperT2002-05-24

  I must admit that I enjoyed this movie, but then again I have always been a fan of John Thaw. The plot is fairly straight forward and includes all the usual 'good cop, bad cop' conflicts required: old man, 7 year old daughter; white man, black (almost) son-in-law etc. The outcome is predictable, but the acting is quiet frankly superb - and not just John Thaw. So if it does show on a TV screen near you, I recommend spending a couple of hours in John Thaw's company.

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• Like Goodnight Mister Tom, very moving

  TheLittleSongbird2009-02-10

  This was John Thaw's last role before he sadly passed away, so this is very special to me. The story, while a tiny bit predictable, runs on a parallel with Goodnight Mister Tom, a grumpy widower, reluctantly taking care of a child and ending up loving them. In this case, it is about Harry Jenkins, whose estranged daughter has died, and he has to take care of her daughter, who wants to know her father. As usual, the direction and camera-work is beautiful, the script is funny and touching and the acting consistently superb. Although I felt a sense of reluctance in his character, John Thaw is wholly convincing as Harry, who like Tom goes through a change of heart. Dominique Jackson is amusing and cute, might I add, as his granddaughter Saffron, and kudos to everyone else as well. There were some truly moving scenes, especially the ending, where I saw a side to John Thaw that I never noticed. Well recommended, 9.5/10. Bethany Cox

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• John Thaw: One of Britains Best

  Patagualian2011-03-21

  Whilst I can see the point of a previous comment: "Best Loved" is a tag that is used far too often, John thaw will always have a place in my heart. He brought so much character to many of his roles......Again, I must agree with the previous comment: The Sweeney for me was awful, way over the top...or maybe it just hasn't aged well. He was most generous in that he insisted Denis Waterman was given more "lines" as he acknowledged his contribution. Being out of the UK I was a late-comer to Kavanagh QC, & I initially watched it with some reluctance, however,I was converted, the stories were always first-rate, with many amusing-side plots, usually involving the hapless Jeremy. I guess I will continue to watch anything with John Thaw in....if only to remember how much pleasure he gave to millions....world-wide. Along with Pete Postlethwaite: He was truly one of Britains best actors. (And not a Hollywood Blockbuster between them.)

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• redemption? oops, spoiler?

  Bullus-12008-01-04

  This is an astonishingly beautiful movie about the love of an old White British Granddad for his young Afro British Granddaughter and what he will do to make sure he keeps her safe. That's all I wanted to say but.. Hey, then you have to ask yourself: How do those Brits craft such splendid stories? I mean listen to those accents! Who could write this stuff? The old boy gets a chance to redeem himself after failing his original daughter, and now he gets a second chance to give it a go. OK never mind about plot spoiler thingies, just look at the wonderful human interaction between these first class actors in what is after all supposed to be nothing more than a humdrum British TV movie. Would that we could all aspire to such drama.

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• A lovely, sentimental drama

  Sleepin_Dragon2016-08-04

  Hidden Treasure takes you on an emotional roller-coaster of a journey, it moves through different stages of bleakness, loathing, realisation and happiness. An unusual role I thought for John Thaw to have done, but I doubt he'd have agreed to the role of Harry had he not seen some gold in the script. He is well supported by Wil Johnson, Rachel Davies, and of course young Dominique Johnson. Quite a sad and tragic story, they did a good job in ensuring that the sweeter elements win through over the bleaker parts. It is one of those dramas of self discovery, and in some ways you have an idea of the plot soon after it begins, that said it doesn't stop this being very enjoyable. I miss this kind of drama, these emotionally engaging one offs seem a thing of the past, it's always nice to be moved once in a while. 8/10

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