Armond White

(2012-04-27 17:46:53)

Evading the issue of what used to be called "yellow journalism," Morris' depraved method prevents us from ever getting out of this swamp.

John Hartl

(2012-04-27 06:14:54)

The movie is guilty of condescending toward its subjects, though most of them appear to be having a fabulous time telling tales.

Jennifer Merin

(2012-04-24 12:59:21)

Morris' choice of title may be ripe with ironic intent, but the film is what it is: an arrogant, obscene, inexcusable example of tabloid exploitation.

Frank Swietek

(2012-04-24 00:40:50)

Fascinating, whimsically humorous and poignant, all at once.

Donald J. Levit

(2012-04-16 12:28:43)

'Tabloid' never rises above -- in fact, it becomes -- the absurdity it depicts.

Robin Clifford

(2012-04-15 15:27:05)

What is real and what is fiction, in this reality show that preceded all others by over 20 years, is a matter of conjecture.

Ken Hanke

(2012-04-07 14:36:30)

You may see -- and perhaps already have seen -- better documentaries this year than Errol Morris' Tabloid, but I doubt you'll see a more entertaining one.

Michael O'Sullivan

(2012-04-06 20:39:15)

For fans of Morris's work, which often grapples with the nature of truth and memory, it's a must-see film.

Matt Pais

(2012-03-30 13:44:13)

A weird, somewhat funny, considerably disturbing exploration of an unreliable narrator and a hungry media that eventually turns a convicted criminal into a celebrity.

Steve Pulaski

(2012-03-30 06:36:21)

May shock, but read all about it

Behind the adorable blonde hair and sweet, innocent-girl smile lies acheckered and intriguing past in Joyce McKinney's life. Errol Morris'sTabloid is one of the most mature documentaries I've ever witnessed.The documentarian who is known for making very deep and personalstories goes out of his way to shed light on a scandal that hasn'tgotten much talk or publicity in recent years. But maybe that is forthe best.In 1977, a young Mormon missionary named Kirk Anderson was abducted byan unknown woman from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saintsin Ewell, Surrey. A few days later, he returned claiming he waskidnapped by a woman named Joyce McKinney, a young woman who wascrowned Miss Wyoming, who attempted to seduce him and rape him while helay bounded on a bed.McKinney was arrested, and the case was dubbed "The Mormon sex inchains case." It was shocking and absurd for the time period as well.Keep in mind that back in the 1970's, Mormonism was thought to be moreof a strange cult than a religion. Society wasn't as accepting astoday, and that's why people were so quick to jump over everyoneinvolved.When conducting interviews with numerous people, Morris doesn't dareinterrupt. It's a one-setting documentary involving Errol Morris'sfamous "Interrotron " method. The Interrotron is where Morris places atwo way mirror in front of the camera so both parties can see eachothers faces. It's a way of pretending the camera doesn't exist orisn't really there. This method is used to try and get more out of theperson and not have the eerie feeling of being filmed while discussing.But I don't believe Joyce McKinney or anyone else in the film reallycares that they're being filmed. I think they're so flattered thatthey're finally telling their side of the story. Why did I call this"on of the most mature documentaries I've ever witnessed?" BecauseMorris doesn't incorporate any opinion or stance within the film. Hedoesn't even state if he believes the characters are telling the truthor not. He just wants each person to tell their side of the story theway they feel it should be told.It's also interesting to note that the music in the documentary is soradiant and so important to the storytelling in the film. Never do wereally pay attention or notice the music in a documentary, but thetonality in Tabloid is depicted strongly throughout the backgroundmusic. After all, the film doesn't move around too much. It's shot in aone-setting location against a gray backdrop with the characterstalking one on one with the camera.We see montages from older films, reenactments of certain key events,and little animated tabloid pictures compiled into a creative montageto tell certain parts of the story. The film is titled "Tabloid"because Joyce McKinney began to develop into a popular figurepublicized in magazines. So many stories were published about her thatthe truth became distorted. She states honestly and chillingly in thedocumentary "a person can tell a lie so many times that they believeit's true." You will definitely leave Tabloid confused and curious. Welearned so much, but how much of it is true? We may never really know.I personally believe most everything brought to the table here, butthen again, the lack of evidence on McKinney's part perplexes me. It isexplained at the end where all the evidence went, but the believabilityis highly questionable.According to Former Missionary Troy Williams, the story of the Mormonsex in chains case has been brought to light in three scenarios.Scenario one he was chloroformed, tied up, raped, and forced to be thesex slave of McKinney. Otherwise known as Kirk's side of the story.Scenario two is Joyce McKinney's side of the story where she wantedKirk to be "free" of the Mormon's ways. So she "rescued" him from thechurch and they planned to run off, have kids, and life a life ofpeace. Scenario three is a hybrid of the two. Where Joyce and Kirkplanned a life together, but somewhere along the line he refused it andbacked out.Joyce McKinney's last time in the light before this film was when shehired a Korean doctor to clone her own dog "Booger" after his death.McKinney even states in the film that she herself believes it strangethat a person could go from someone who "kidnaps a Mormon man and useshim as a sex slave" to someone who hires a person to clone her own dog.McKinney now resides in the mountain ranges of North Carolina living alife of celibacy, solitude, and peace from the people and the press.Maybe that's for the best on both parts. Here we have a woman who hasspent most of her life in the spotlight for such a shady case, maybeit's time to just let her rest.Tabloid is one of 2011's best documentaries, but the subject matterwill have a lot of potential viewers looking the other way. Ignore thesubject matter, just dive into the film hoping to see a verythought-provoking, well made, serious documentary made by a filmmakerwho knows how to dish out a very personal story. The film's way ofstyle and tonality is beautifully crafted, and erects one of the mostshocking yet intriguing sex scandals in history.Starring: Joyce McKinney and Troy Williams. Directed by: Errol Morris.

marymorrissey

(2012-03-21 18:49:15)

only three reviews? this film is a good time waiting to be had by all....

I'm glad I went into the movie knowing next to nothing about it. I willwarn that it's a bit of a guilty pleasure... it's one of those moviesin which you laugh at other peoples' suffering... but it doesn't feelso terrible because somehow the subject comes across as more of a wildphenomenon that she does as someone "tragic"... this is true for someof the subsidiary figures in the story whom one certainly could neverenvy, yet what it is they were up to in enacting this story, living it,was indulging themselves, surely, in nothing other than that which theywant to be doing! is this enough lines for a review? I can quote Godwho speaks in the film promising "something a little extra" and this isimportant, perhaps, to bear in mind, for I felt at a certain point thatI was looking forward to the films' ending ... by the end I was gladthat I didn't get so impatient as to check out...

Stephanie Zacharek

(2012-03-21 11:54:03)

Compared with Morris' best and most provocative documentaries, like The Fog of War, Tabloid is just a trifle. It's a silly little thing that goes down easy and is forgotten almost instantly.

Colin Covert

(2012-03-12 14:42:34)

McKinney, a born performer, is in her glory as she spins her version of the affair.

Charlie Lyne

(2012-03-11 19:21:29)

complex, intriguing and always entertaining

Scott Tobias

(2012-03-06 05:48:41)

McKinney may well be a madwoman, but Morris connects so deeply to her obsessions that the film's tone never seems exploitative or mocking.

Shaun Munro

(2012-03-05 17:50:41)

As with any of Morris' documentaries, Tabloid is thematically rich beyond the bounds of its central focus.

Doris Toumarkine

(2012-03-04 04:27:50)

Documentary maverick Errol Morris stays quirky and goes trashy...Style here surpasses content, but there's entertainment aplenty to bring audiences to the table.

Dennis Schwartz

(2012-03-03 20:57:15)

Compelling, weird and queasy documentary on the eccentric Joyce McKinney and her stranger-than-fiction story.

Rob Thomas

(2012-02-26 20:10:18)

If "Tabloid" feels like a minor Morris work compared to "The Fog of War" or "Mr. Death," it is still entertaining, with a sly sense of humor and an empathetic eye for the bizarre that harkens back to earlier movies like "Gates of Heaven."

Mick LaSalle

(2012-02-26 08:53:24)

Morris is a storyteller of the highest order, and within seconds, he draws us into his subject, doling out details, making us wonder what will happen next and dropping bombs for maximum impact.