The latest from Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys), and based on the memoir of the film’s screenwriter, Alan Bennett (who also adapted Hytner’s The History Boys from his own play), The Lady in the Van is the “mostly true” story of the relationship between Bennett (portrayed in the film by Alex Jennings, The Queen) and the curious Miss Shepherd (a never-better Maggie Smith), a woman of uncertain origins who “temporarily” parked her van in Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. Featuring a supporting cast made up of a who’s-who of fantastic English character actors—including Deborah Findlay, Frances de la Tour, and Jim Broadbent—The Lady in the Van is not only a touching and funny film, but also a showcase for Smith, who spends the entire run time reminding us why she is one of the all-time greats—as if anyone needed reminding in the first place.