[FILM REVIEW] THE APPRENTICE Review (2024)
Summary: The story of how a young Donald Trump started his real-estate business in 1970s and ’80s New York with the helping hand of infamous lawyer Roy M. Cohn.
Year: 2024
Cinema Release Dates: 10th October 2024 (Australia), 14th November 2024 (Thailand), 18th October 2024 (UK), 11th October 2024 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: Canada, Denmark, Ireland
Director: Ali Abbasi
Screenwriter: Gabriel Sherman
Cast: Brad Austin (Dick Morgan), Maria Bakalova (Ivana Trump), Ben Ball (Robert Trump), Matt Baram (Dr. Steven Hoefflin), Tom Barnett (Rupert Murdoch), Hume Baugh (Tenant Mr. Granger), Bruce Beaton (Andy Warhol), Jason Blicker (George Steinbrenner), Kyle James Butler (Daniel K. Ludwig), Charlie Carrick (Freddy Trump), Ian D. Clark (Ed Koch), Clare Coulter (Tenant Ms. Nathanson), Patrick Darragh (Daniel Sullivan), Kerry Ann Doherty (Estelle), Martin Donovan (Fred Trump), James Downing (Walter – Department Of Justice), Eoin Duffy (Tony Schwartz), Samantha Espie (Elizabeth Trump), Aidan Gouveia (Peter Fraser), Michael Hough (Kinney – Reporter), Stuart Hughes (Mike Wallace), Edie Inksetter (Barbara Katz), Jai Jai Jones (Theodore Green), Marvin Karon (Harry Helmsley), Ron Lea (Victor Palmieri), Iona Rose Mackay (Mary Trump), James Madge (Tom Bolan), Peter McGann (Jay Stanley Pottinger (voice)), Catherine McNally (Mary Anne Trump), Emily Mitchell (Ivanka Trump), Jim Monaco (Al Formicola), Frank Moore (Judge Edward Neaher), Valerie O’Connor (Rona Barrett), Moni Ogunsuyi (Sandra), Chris Owens (Jay Pritzker), Joe Pingue (Tony Salerno), Mark Rendall (Roger Stone), Sam Rosenthal (Michael Rubin), Dina Roudman (Carly), Sebastian Stan (Donald Trump), Jeremy Strong (Roy Cohn), Ben Sullivan (Russell Eldridge)
Running Time: 122 minutes
Classification: MA15+ (Australia), TBC (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)
OUR THE APPRENTICE REVIEWS
David Griffiths THE APPRENTICE Review
With the US Presidential election hotting up now seems to be a good time to take a look at controversial brand-new film The Apprentice. Whether this film is an accurate portrayal of a young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan – Captain America: Winter Soldier) or whether it is a media beat-up designed to discredit a Presidential candidate all seems to come down to what side of politics you support.
Either way what we do know is that Trump and his lawyers went the legal route to try and make sure that this film didn’t see the light of day before the election in America… and it is not surprising because Trump certainly doesn’t come out of this film smelling like roses.
The film begins during the early days of Trump’s career where he dreamed of turning one of New York’s run-down eyesores into a luxurious hotel. The idea was shot down by his property developer father, Fred (Martin Donovan – Tenet), but Trump was determined to make it happen so started to explore other avenues.
It was during that time that he met ruthless and cunning lawyer, Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong – The Trial Of The Chicago 7), who wasn’t afraid to take on anyone in court even the Government. He liked what he saw with Trump and decided to help him out with his career while also passing on advice like – “never admit guilt.”
The film then chronicles the impact that Cohn had on Trump while Trump begins to build his business empire while pursuing beautiful young model Ivana (Maria Bakalova – Bodies Bodies Bodies) and watching his brother, Freddy (Charlie Carrick – Deep Water) self-destruct because of his addictions.
Whether this film is an accurate portrayal of a young Trump or if it is a character assassination is hard to say – technically only one person knows whether what is portrayed here is fact, fiction or half-truths and that is Trump himself.
What I can say about The Apprentice though is that it doesn’t exactly seem to set out to show Trump as an all out one-dimensional villain. Instead the film seems to show different stages of Trump and his personality to get to where he is today.
Early on the screenplay by Gabriel Sherman (Independence Day: Resurgence) depicts Trump as a lost young man with big dreams. He wants to earn his father’s praise but instead seems to be lost when he is placed in a world of greed and sex. In fact to the audience it looks and feels like he only starts to mimic the behaviour of those around him in order to gain their acceptance.
That lack of world knowledge is further emulated when he begins his pursuit of Ivana – which literally screams of a man trying to achieve an unachievable dream.
The film then also depicts Trump as a person of capable of some despicable acts – including a vile scene involving what he does to Ivana and of course throughout the plot shows how he turns his back on those that really need him including his brother Freddy.
But even then it feels like Sherman and director, Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider), still want to show Trump as someone who is easily misunderstood. Some may say that his behaviour toward Roy when he is sick with AIDS is despicable but the film clearly shows that most of that behaviour came from the fact that Trump didn’t fully understand the disease and thought you could catch it from simply touching the person. Even the scenes that seem to suggest that Trump might be homophobic trip themselves up because he knew Roy was gay before he was sick so surely he would have turned his back on him then if he was in fact prejudice?
Of course once again all of what we have discussed here technically becomes a moot point because this whole film really rests on whether or not what Sherman and Abbasi have brought to the screen is true or not.
What can’t be disputed about The Apprentice though is the power of the acting performances. Jeremy Strong puts in one of the strongest performances of his career to make Cohn appear ruthless but also a character you feel sorry for.
He is also well matched by the unrecognisable Sebastian Stan who seems to literally become a young Trump. Not only does he capture the look and the mannerisms sensationally well but he plays the character in such a way that like Strong’s Cohn you feel sorry for him even while his cruel side is on display for all to see.
Perhaps the political side of this film may taint things for them but if you solely judge them on their engaging and powerful performances then both Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong could be looking at award nominations for their roles here.
The Apprentice is a movie that will be widely debated for a long time to come. Is it a good dramatic film that engages its audience? Yes. Is it a film that tells the truth and only the truth without embellishing things for a political agenda? Well we can’t say because only the screenwriter, director and Donald Trump himself knows that.
Dave’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
Other The Apprentice Reviews
You can read our review of The Apprentice that appeared in The Phuket News right here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/the-apprentice-puts-young-trump-on-show-94241.php
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