Please don't spend money on this.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The Lady in the van is a touching, interesting movie, but the most important part of the film is the actress in the leading role, Dame Maggie Smith. She is one of the best actresses in the world and her talent is extraordinary. Her performance is breathtaking, she portrays a very odd, maybe bizarre person, whose life is full of tragedies. These are not big things, but they mean a lot for this woman. Smith works with many feelings, one time we see a very old and sick woman, after that a queen, and many times a child. She jumps properly between the periods of a human beings development, but the wounds in her soul are important to recognize. Her past is a secret, just one or two people know the truth. (It's an interesting fact, that many things are based on misunderstandings) Not only Maggie has a stunning performance, but to tell the truth, the others are very very far from this queen of acting. (Jim Broadbents role is very tiny in the movie) It's worth mentioning how good the "every-day" people are portrayed. Many stereotypes are presented that's why the movie is a great society critic. (How react people when they are forced to live next to a homeless lady? Are people who seem to be helpful, really friendly? Or do they have a not so friendly goal?) All in all, the film is wonderful, Maggie Smith is excellent. I cannot understand why she hasn't got an Oscar nomination (or maybe an award, which would be well deserved) for this role. But it doesn't matter. The Lady in the van worth watching.

This was listed under 'comedy' on Netflix and my son chose it for us to watch together, after I insisted we watch something other than Pokemon... He thought it was going to be in the same David Walliams vein of The Boy In The Dress etc. It's not that kind of 'comedy' - and while almost all of it is family-friendly (just a couple of big swears), the central theme and wry observations from Alan Bennett will either go over the heads of little ones or will just come across as dull. The aforementioned Mr B is kind of a marmite writer in that he divides the audience. I find him smug and clever, without ever provoking more than a minor smile. It's the Carla Lane-esque summary of "Life" that I object to in his style. Things make him think (which is good) but inevitably he seems to conclude that his life is just boring and he's not living it enough etc. Quit moaning about not living and live it. Or, just quit moaning and accept that you'll never bungee jump in New Zealand or whatever "Life" Aside from my feelings towards Bennett himself, this was an enjoyable, if bemusing, film. Maggie Smith is impressive as the frankly unpleasant eponymous Lady.It's clear she has her problems, I just find it tragic, for her, that it take so long for them to be dealt with.Not exactly a typical odd-couple film.

Alan Bennett adapted his autobiographical 1999 West End play and subsequent BBC Radio 4 drama about a homeless woman in 1970 Camden named Mary Shepherd who needed a place to park her van, her home on wheels, after leaving it on the street has alerted the authorities. Bennett (played by Alex Jennings as a maybe-maybe not homosexual) is too polite to refuse Mary help, and so allows her to park her van in his driveway, where she stayed for some 15 years. Maggie Smith, recreating her stage success, is not portraying a charming vagabond, an irascible curmudgeon. Her Mary is an impossible handful, and one watches this film about her not knowing how to respond. If the picture is meant to be wily and eccentric, it fails because it isn't funny. When Shepherd needs medical help and the classical music is poured on, that doesn't work either, because this character as written isn't poignant. I tired of her long before the finish. *1/2 from ****

I have liked Alan Bennett ever since his TV series and the stage adaption of History Boys years ago. Alex Jennings was really a good pick for him because the real Alan Bennett and himself very much look the same. I was very surprised that the real Alan Bennett appeared in the near end of the film, I thought that was honestly Alex Jennings lol! Its like they are swapping around as twins, you don't realise which one was which!Maggie Smith was good as the old woman, she does know how to play a cranky one too! Although I couldn't understand why her character wasn't seen escaping the nursing home, it was as if she runned and left her wheelchair behind. Yeah the social worker appeared but why didn't we see her running away from the nursing home?! Thats why I had to give this movie a 7/10, even though its alright but, I felt like it was being too rushed yknow!