Lady in the Van (The)

The Dowager Countess of Grantham in rags...

There was a pre-Oscar buzz that Maggie would be picking up that coveted little gleaming statuette yet again...but, no, not even a nomination.

It's a strange film...on one hand it is the quintessential British eccentrics doing their bit for the sake of entertainment...and on the other, a pompous piece of self-reflection...by a highly respected and talented writer who has - sadly - crossed the crest of his hill.

So...Alan Bennett was...a bit of a loner, firmly in-the-closet and a frequent consumer of rent boys...and, as the film so clumsily shows, had a bit of a split personality. There are 2 Bennetts here...the writer and the man...one - really - is enough.

It's all fun and games when Maggie is on the screen...when she's not...go and make a cup of tea, you'll miss nothing of importance. Because, she and only she is the woman of importance...not the writer, nor his supposed good deed, nor his perpetual, whining patience.

Apart from the ridiculous ending - Hytner really does mess the whole thing up - The Lady in the Van leaves you with a particularly nasty after-taste...nothing to do with her grubby stench...

Those canny British eccentrics...they could get blood out of a stone.

Pat yourself on the back Alan...you made a ton of money out of the woman who lived in squalor in your front garden for 15 years....call it back rent, shall we?!?

Somewhat self-righteous and rather unpalatable.

Trailer...