Stellead Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Micransix Crappy film

Spoonatects Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

sirenebern "The Lady in the Van" is based on the true story of successful (though not socially successful) playwright and actor Alan Bennett, who reluctantly allows a very eccentric homeless woman (played with shrill comic delight by Maggie Smith) to park her decrepit, junk-filled yellow van in his driveway in an upscale suburb of London. She winds up staying there for years, and Bennett comes to care about her well-being more than he likes to admit. Through Bennett's witty, self-deprecating dialogue with the audience (fourth wall) as well as himself (he plays both himself and his alter ego, a more confident version of himself), the film reveals the gift of caring for someone selflessly, someone who is truly in need, who has been victimized -- and who isn't particularly grateful for the help. I watched "The Lady in the Van" at Christmas, and I think, though it is not a "holiday movie" per se, that it has a message that resonates at that time of the year. When you're worn out by the mall crowds and turned off by the crass commercialism, watch "The Lady in the Van" with a cup of hot, spiked tea. You will be moved and have a lot of laughs along the way, I promise. Excellent acting by both Alex Jennings as Bennett and Maggie Smith, as well as the many stars in supporting roles and cameos (most of the cast of Bennett's hit "The History Boys").

José Acosta I never take the time to review a movie, I don't think that my thoughts are important enough (at least talking about movies) for others to read them and also I hate to write in English -I have to think twice!- But this movie deserves it.As always, Maggie Smith makes and unforgettable performance. This time of Margaret Fairchild, an old woman who once was a pianist and a nun, but became an fugitive homeless who lives in a old van that eventually, as everything in her life that brings her joy, is painted yellow. All the Camden community (almost) is nice to her, but there is one person who is even more fond to her: Alan Bennett.While we see Alan speaking to himself, we also see how this lady manage to leave almost every day the van (and Alan's garage) to make a life: she goes to church, to shop groceries, and she even goes to the beach every now and then.With the time we get to know better the story of Mrs. Shepherd, and we get to love her more.This is a very well done movie with a peculiar and amazing ending. We all ought to see this movie.

moveebuff1953 Stumbled upon this British movie by chance. What a pleasure to see Maggie Smith perform her craft so brilliantly. She never seems to fail to lift a film to such a high level of excellence. The story itself is mysterious from the beginning as we are led to wonder how she ended up homeless & living in a van. Some greet her with compassion and others with disdain. Alex Jennings as Mr. Bennet is equally as brilliant as a caring & kind writer along with his alter ego. How sad that only with death do those who could have given her some compassion in life only show up when she least needs them. In a perfect world I would only wish that people would care about the elderly and realize that they have many life stories that are worth listening to and not just discard them because they can not move as quickly and perhaps need someone who thinks that they even the elderly have a purpose. We will all be old someday....if we're lucky.

Irishchatter 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!