NOW IN THEATERS! A Trump movie coming out during a highly contentious election year? What could go wrong? Oddly enough, Ali Abbasi’s Trump biopic, The Apprentice, is not the film I thought it would be, especially at a time when we’re all forced to “take sides.”
The Apprentice documents the rise of Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) under the tutelage of the infamous Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) starting in the 1970s and leading to the publishing of his best-selling book, The Art of the Deal. Trump begins as a meek, inexperienced businessman living under the shadow of his father, Fred Trump (Martin Donovan). When Trump approaches Cohn for advice, he reluctantly takes in the schlub under his wing, teaching him Cohn’s infamous “never back down” approach to business and politics.
Under Cohn’s mentorship, Trump learns how to use political clout and blackmail to manipulate New York City politicians to get what he wants, such as eliminating city taxes on Trump’s first massive building project. Along the way, Trump meets Czechoslovakian model Ivana Zelníčková (Maria Bakalova), and the two fall in love in what appears to be a beautiful business transaction. Ivana will be at Trump’s side, helping him sell his next project. Then there’s his strained relationship with his addicted brother Freddy (Charlie Carrick). Lastly, Trump’s addiction to amphetamines to lose weight is brought up.
I’ll start by saying The Apprentice is not the motion picture you expect it to be. In the end, it will not sway any election. Except for one scene that will piss off the Trump campaign, this is not a DNC-funded political hit piece. My guess is that the progressive left will hate this because it humanizes Trump. The right will hate it because of the aforementioned scene, but for the most part, admit, yes, this is the Trump we know. At the same time, this is not pro-Trump by any means. It’s the origin story of a greedy, narcissistic billionaire who learned from the best in Cohn and became a ruthless businessman and man in the end.
“…documents the rise of Donald Trump under the tutelage of the infamous Roy Cohn…”
Normally, I don’t like to include information from Q&A sessions I attend with filmmakers, but this one provides valuable context. Abbasi flat-out said that this is not a Trump movie. Instead, it’s a character study of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn. One is rising to the highest heights of his career, and the other is on the decline as he is about to be disbarred for misconduct and his slow death from AIDS. Cohn would never admit to his illness or sexual orientation to his last breath.
You need to see The Apprentice. Stan gives another incredible performance alongside A Different Man. He doesn’t exactly look like Trump, but his facial expressions (his mouth) make you believe he’s the former president. His performance is not a comic caricature by any means. The mannerisms are subtle, and sadly for the left, he never goes full H****r. Like a great actor, Stan nails Trump’s transformation throughout the film.
The cinematography is incredible as well. The drama has the look of the cinema and video newsreel of the time. Abassi also captures the hedonism and sexual revolution of the 1980s in the glorious colors of the period.
I highly recommend The Apprentice for its story and Stan’s performance. Sure, you can let politics get in the way of enjoying the film. Its politics will please no one, but for fans of story and characters, the movie succeeds in its primary goal: telling a good story about humanity, warts, and all.
"…never goes full H****r."
