The Ali of this documentary entered the ring a phenom first, but came-of-age outside of it and grew into a man, second.

| Original Score: A | Feb 28, 2021

For kids who need an Ali primer, the terrific "Trials" is required watching.

| Feb 28, 2021

A solid if undistinguished documentary that's content to show a series of incidents rather than dig into the cultural ramifications of Ali's stand.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 28, 2021

Muhammad Ali was and still is charismatic. The Trials of Muhammad Ali is not.

| Feb 25, 2021

A riveting, illuminating examination of a man who's lauded for his triumphs in the squared circle, but in fact faced and overcame much, much more trying struggles outside of the ring.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Apr 10, 2019

A maddeningly incomplete portrait of the champ on the defensive, where he was never at his best.

Full Review | Apr 28, 2015

It's hard to go wrong with footage of the charismatic and abrasive Ali who is not always depicted as a saint

| Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 3, 2014

Works better as a history of events than a biographical film about Ali.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 30, 2014

A rock-solid portrait of Ali's passions about faith and conscience, and a stirring case that his political legacy is more important, and will be more lasting, than his days in the boxing ring.

| Apr 5, 2014

As with the best stories, "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" puts one man's story within a greater context. This is Ali's story, but it's America's story, too. Here, it's well told.

| Original Score: B+ | Dec 19, 2013

Where it finds strength is in its exploration of Ali as a man and as a symbol.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 25, 2013

The Trials of Muhammad Ali allows us a chance to see Muhammad Ali not as an icon but as a man willing to take a stand, even an unpopular one, for something that he believed in.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 11, 2013

Conventional yet fascinating.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 8, 2013

Ali's life has been recounted so many times that you'd think no one could come up with a fresh angle on it; documentary maker Bill Siegel succeeds, primarily by delving into the religious story, largely downplayed by the mainstream.

| Nov 7, 2013

With athletes in 2013 giving in to everything around them, Ali's strength feels even more palpable. He truly was the greatest.

| Original Score: 4.0/5.0 | Nov 6, 2013

If you have fond memories of David Susskind's talk shows from the golden age of 1960s television, prepare to have them blasted away by this revealing documentary.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Oct 31, 2013

As usual the most compelling voice is Ali's own.

| Oct 31, 2013

Subject is Fascinating

| Original Score: 5/5 | Oct 25, 2013

There is history as it's remembered, and then there's history as it happened. This documentary gives us the latter, and it's a true education.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 24, 2013

It's a captivating story and a sturdy, informative documentary, managing to find a fresh perspective of experience for one of the most famous men in the world.

| Original Score: B+ | Oct 19, 2013