Review of Tabloid (2011) by Mikael K — 04 May 2013

In the 1970's a peculiar abduction case shook the american media when former Miss Wyoming Joyce McKinney was charged with the abduction of a Mormon missionary. The Mormon church accused McKinney of forcefully kidnapping a member of theirs and raping him while the accused herself claimed she had eloped with a man who had loved her but who was later brainwashed by his church.

The 2010 documentary "Tabloid" gets back in touch with McKinney and other people associated with the case. Through interviews, a peculiar enigma is exposed. Director Errol Morris lets the interviewees make his film even as he uses news footage and animation cleverly.

The film doesn't take a stand on which side of the story is more true, although the Mormon viewpoint is virtually lacking. This is more about the absurdity of the whole case, yet the tone isn't too exploitative.

One does get very curious about McKinney, I must admit. She comes across as silly, unfocused and hyperactive in the interviews, yet it is revealed that she has the IQ of a true criminal mastermind. Considering the oddly enchanting but incongruous nature of her personality the kidnapping scenario doesn't feel all that far fetched, even though an idea of a Mormon trying to escape their tight community and later panicking is completely plausible.

"Tabloid" isn't a masterful documentary, nor does it adress any truly relevant issues, but it's much less trashy than it easily might have been. It's an entertaining one and a half hours that does even manage to make you think about the nature of truth and the power media- as well as filmmakers- have over what is perceived as such.