Trashy Fun

Tabloid (2010) - Morris

Errol Morris's examination of the nature of tabloids turns out to be the funniest film I've seen in years. He tells a crazy story that happened in Britain, 1977 involving a beautiful all around American girl Joyce McKinney. From her side of the story, it makes McKinney a hopeless romantic- love at first sight, but her man goes to Britain for a mission (he is a Mormon), she goes after him with some friends, kidnaps him and ties him to a bed and have sex with him to de-brainwash him. The Scotland Yard sees it differently and puts her in jail. British tabloids see it differently as well dig up some of her sordid past including bunch of nudie and s&m pics of her.

Real life stories are nuttier than fiction. Morris lets his subject tell their stories without much interruption. Conveniently, all the records and photos are missing from both sides, the truth lost in the middle somewhere.

Then there is a Korean connection involving cloned dogs named Boogers one to five. The tabloid story doesn't get any weirder than this.

In the age of Newscorp scandal and sensationalized murder trials, Joyce McKinney story seems fun and innocent. Morris is on top of his game and has never been any more entertaining than this. Will definitely end up in my top ten of 2011.

My Errol Morris Interview