Chatterbox - still talking nonsense

 My favourite tv of the year,  following my rules which may not make sense to anyone else... Best Drama A lot of female led drama this year which is good news.   The Morning Show:  This show, produced and led by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, but with plenty of other women in leading roles, now in its fourth season.  It has been interesting from the start, taking on different real life topics from the perspective of a US news organisation, starting with Me Too, but also looking at the January 6 riots and the political state of the US nation alongside corporate intrigue.  This season was particularly interested in AI and technology, although there were multiple other subplots and sub-Succession style wheeling and dealing wrapped into this, which made the end result a bit messy as they tried to cram everything in.  This was the weakest season so far, but I will still be watching season 5. (AppleTV+) Film Club: This drama focuses on mental healt...

 Film Grand Theft Hamlet     I have never played a video game properly but I do love Hamlet and the idea of a mashup grabbed me.  This film is ridiculous and often had me laughing out loud, but it is somehow beautiful and even moving in places.  During lockdown, actors Sam and Mark had been playing Grand Theft Auto and came up with the idea of staging Hamlet within the GTA world.  The result of the 16th century smashed into the 21st century virtual world is full of shocking violence but also great intelligence, wit and charm.  The film documents the process using only footage from the game; they hold auditions, rehearse and then finally run a live performance.  Moments of sublime beauty play out, whilst in the background, (or sometimes in the foreground) people are shot, or fight, or crash a blimp or a car.  In the same way as  Staged  seemed sometimes to capture something profound in amongst the messiness and stupidity of huma...