Donald Trump will always be a controversial figure, yet he managed to reach the highest position in one of the world’s most powerful nations. As a former – and possibly future – President of the United States of America (at the time of this review, Trump is campaigning for the office), a film about the early career of the businessman, released just about a month before the elections, would naturally face intense scrutiny, legal challenges, and countless attempts to prevent its release due to the extremely negative portrayal of Trump’s life and personality in The Apprentice.
Against all odds, director Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider) and screenwriter Gabriel Sherman overcame obstacle after obstacle to bring the movie to theaters not only in its home country but also worldwide. The Apprentice stars Sebastian Stan (Captain America) as Donald Trump, following a young version of the protagonist determined to achieve success and fame under his own name. Coming from a wealthy family in 1970s New York, it’s upon meeting Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), a ruthless lawyer, that Trump becomes the persona we know today. Cohn saw in Trump the perfect apprentice: someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and an immense willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
I watched The Apprentice later than many other critics and regular viewers, so I wasn’t immune to some reactions. Here and there, I came across the expression “played it safe”, and after viewing the film, I’m perplexed by such a claim. Personally, I believe Abbasi and Sherman showed insane courage and audacity in portraying certain questionable events, whose truth lies in a contentious limbo, in an openly incriminating manner against one of the most powerful, influential men in the U.S. Honestly, I’m not sure how much further the filmmakers could have gone…
Whether politically, socially, or personally, in the public or private sphere, The Apprentice describes Trump as a businessman without scruples, ethics, morals, remorse, or even respect for those who helped him climb the ladder of success. Anything goes to win, even if it means corrupting others with shocking blackmail. As a person, Trump is portrayed as egocentric, arrogant, sexist, hypocritical, indecent, and even inhumane, showing little to no compassion towards supposed best friends, family members, or even his own wife and children.
That said, The Apprentice doesn’t entirely blame Trump for who he became. Without Cohn, there would be no Trump, and the former’s regret grows throughout the movie. In fact, I wonder if a biography about Cohn might not be even more interesting, given his impact on the ex-POTUS’ life. The lawyer created a capitalist, corrupt, shameless monster, but his negative potential was only achievable due to all those surrounding him, serving as terrible influences, including his own father.
Trump starts as a timid, fearful, easily manipulated “kid”, and more of a dreamer than a doer, but as The Apprentice progresses, any remaining humanity fades, culminating in Trump proclaiming his greatness before New York City, glorifying himself and his achievements. Narratively, the film doesn’t stray from typical biopic formulas, but Abbasi’s direction creates a captivating atmosphere, as if viewers were a fly on the wall, witnessing genuinely shocking developments.
In the end, The Apprentice owes much to the performances of Stan and Strong (The Trial of the Chicago 7), perhaps the best of their careers. Stan impresses with a non-caricatured portrayal, sublimely embodying Donald Trump, without resorting to cheap imitations or exaggerated voice, expressions, or mannerisms. The delivery of his dialogue is the highlight of a truly complete performance. Strong is probably the standout though, with his character’s tragic arc throughout the movie and the extent to which the actor lets himself be influenced by the illness haunting Cohn at a certain point in the narrative. A truly transformative display that will likely be hard to ignore during the upcoming awards season.
The Apprentice will leave no one indifferent. By crafting a provocative, uncompromising narrative about Donald Trump’s early days, Ali Abbasi and Gabriel Sherman confront audiences with a raw, unsettling view of a man who shaped politics, business, his country, and the world with intense controversy and questionable morals. The exceptional, award-worthy performances from Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong elevate a bold script unafraid to incriminate a former – and perhaps future – POTUS in multiple ways, revealing shocking events from his life and career. It’s a biopic that challenges the audience to reflect on the choices we make every day and just how far we’re willing to go to achieve our dreams.
