The Trials of Henry Kissinger
First Run Features | Release Date: September 25, 2002 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
19
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Pungent, opinionated, outspoken. Read full review
100
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
Haunting music, the seriousness of the allegations and riveting interviews with Alexander Haig, Christopher Hitchens (whose book inspired the film) and others give "Kissinger" extra drama and urgency. Read full review
90
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Makes compelling, provocative and prescient viewing. You can draw your own conclusions. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
In ''Trials,'' Hitchens is almost endearing, stalking Kissinger from one event to the next like a bleary-eyed Michael Moore. Read full review
88
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
The Trials of Henry Kissinger serves as both a prosecution brief on the above charges and an unauthorized biography. Read full review
88
Miami HeraldMarta Barber
Puts you on edge about what goes on behind the closed doors of the White House. Even if the case against Kissinger is not fully convincing, the documentary keeps you glued to your seat and thinking long after you've left the theater. Read full review
88
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
The movie never undercuts his brilliance and his unexpected charisma. No matter how high his degree of malevolence, he cuts a bigger figure after you see the movie than he did before. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesManohla Dargis
Bluntly effective. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleMarrit Ingman
The film is sufficiently methodical and well-researched to walk the walk behind its controversial premise. More to the point, it's terribly involving, intriguing enough to hook documentary-shy viewers. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Fascinating to watch as a portrait of political celebrity and ego. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneAllison Benedikt
While the filmmaking is standard documentary fare and the approach overtly biased, the narration, with tales of intelligence intrigue and ruthless foreign policy, is compelling and convincing. Read full review
75
New York PostJonathan Foreman
This brisk, British-American co-production is one of the better political/historical documentaries to come out in some time. Read full review
70
The New YorkerDavid Denby
The movie feels not only like a trial but like a trial in absentia. [7 Oct 2002, p. 108]
70
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Provides a valuable refresher course in our less-acknowledged methods of meddling in the affairs of other countries. Read full review
70
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
A muckraking effort that will probably play best to the converted. Read full review
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
The case is a convincing one, and should give anyone with a conscience reason to pause. Read full review
70
VarietyRonnie Scheib
A chilling history lesson in realpolitik. Read full review
70
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
Damning legal brief against the former secretary of state. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Watching this film, one is left with the inescapable conclusion that Hitchens' obsession with Kissinger is, at bottom, a sophisticated flower child's desire to purge the world of the tooth and claw of human power. The movie isn't, finally, an argument. It's a long angry ''Boo!'' Read full review
60
Dallas ObserverAndy Klein
Two minor drawbacks: Onscreen IDs of speakers are sometimes omitted. And Kissinger's crimes seem almost paltry in comparison to current American policies. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubNoel Murray
On the whole, the filmmakers hold too much to the text, and too often employ the smugly knowing, self-righteous tone typical of British telejournalism. Read full review
50
Village VoiceJ. Hoberman
Circumspect documentary. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyJohn Powers
To explore seriously the question of Kissinger's crimes wouldn't merely take hours, it would require the patient, unblinking vision of a Frederick Wiseman or Marcel Ophuls. Gibney and Jarecki just want to string the bastard up. Read full review
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