90% Tabloid

All Critics (82) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (74) | Rotten (8)

Though the events Tabloid recounts took place in the pre-digital age, the film also functions as a kind of prehistory of modern celebrity culture and tabloid journalism.

Morris's subject is sexual fantasy and a particular kind of American stupidity-the ability to substitute self-justification for self-knowledge. His tone is merry.

It is quite simply one of the craziest stories ever told, made all the crazier by the fact that it's true. Or at least some version of it is true.

Tabloid, Errol Morris' latest wild and woolly portrait of human self-delusion, is a scandal-sheet dream come to life.

A tale of obsession and abduction, self-delusion and sexual confusion, Errol Morris' Tabloid stands as an almost giddy affirmation of the old cliche: Truth is stranger than fiction.

The viewer is left with no clear indication of what really happened, but with a vibrant portrait of a compelling character. That's what Morris is after.

Morris has found a real character in McKinney, but to what end, I couldn't say.

"Tabloid" is tantalizing, but like yesterday's headlines, it's a fleeting flirtation.

It's a titillating yarn told with verve, but it doesn't shed much light on how tabloids create and encourage such stories, nor does it, finally, tell us much about human nature -- other than, perhaps, to illustrate an extreme case of it.

The celebrated filmmaker has created a meta-tabloid of sorts, surrendering to the idea that the truth is absurdly unknowable.

Morris compellingly unfolds the story and clearly means for us to see our own untoward qualities writ large in Joyce and the circus surrounding her.

Fascinating, whimsically humorous and poignant, all at once.

In addition to his admirable qualities, Morris also seems to find his subject to be hilarious. And she is.

a magnificently unsettling and funny-sad portrait of the arguably sick relationships that are forged between celebrities, the media, and their audiences

The film around [Joyce] McKinney isn't quite sure of what it's about, at times... but McKinney herself is the sort of arresting figure that you don't shake easily.

Errol Morris succeeds against all odds in besting his previous Olympians of quirkiness.

William Carlos Williams wrote "The pure products of America/ Go crazy," and the funny, freaky Tabloid captures that contrast, that promise, that curse.

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

Doesn't tell us anything about sleazy journalism or the insatiable thirst for gossip that we didn't already know. Far-fetched and overblown just about sums it up.

"Tabloid" is the hilariously strange-but-true documentary of Joyce McKinney, a media-savvy nutcase decades ahead of her time, thank the Lord.

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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tabloid_2010/

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