“Author: The JT Leroy Story,” a new documentary by Jeff Feuerzeig (“The Devil and Daniel Johnston”), is a curious attempt to redeem, at least partly, the reputation of a notorious hoax. JT Leroy, whose fame flickered for about a decade starting in the mid-1990s, was both a writer of overtly autobiographical fiction and an entirely fictional character. Ms. Albert doesn’t like to think of JT Leroy as a hoax, preferring the loftier word “myth.”VideoTo some extent she has a point. But rather than investigate the meaning of the Leroy myth, “Author” allows Ms. Albert to revise and perpetuate it. “Author: The JT Leroy Story” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian).

Source: New York Times September 08, 2016 21:56 UTC