Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.
Protraph Lack of good storyline.
InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.
Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
mateszalai 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.
gordonroad-62850 My biggest praise for this film is for the performances of Maggie Smith and Alan Jennings, who brought to life their characters extremely well. Smith shines as the eccentric and cantankerous Miss Shepherd who has a troubled past, whilst Jennings is also brilliant as Alan Bennett with his sharp wit and intellect providing for some funny moments. The relationship that builds between them is developed very effectively.However, I do have many problems with the narrative, mainly that it doesn't amount to much with so little actually happening in the story. I found it very hard to be engaged when most of it singly revolved around the interactions between Smith and Jennings with very little else going on. Also, learning about Miss Shepherd's past could have been quite intriguing but it just leads to some rather underwhelming reveals at the end with little deeper exploration into how she became the person she is.In the end I found this to be quite average, not terrible by any means, but not something I will ever have the inclination to watch again.
Michael Ledo The film is based on a true story, shot on location where the event happened.Margaret T, Fairchild (Maggie Smith) aka Mary, is an elderly woman who lived in her van. In the opening scene, which is dark, there is an accident, one in which she runs from. She ends up in Camden Town and in the yard of playwright Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings). Bennett separates himself into two people, the author, and the individual who deals with stubborn woman in the van.As the film progresses, the glimpses we get of her younger life fill in, as we discover this is an educated woman, who is accomplished, and whose life is now being wasted. Alan constantly contrasts her to his own mother, in a home who doesn't him.But it is not a sad story. Maggie Smith gives us a delightful performance of a quirky woman with hygiene issues.Guide: Occasional F-word. No sex or nudity.
goldenarrow-99823 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.
