• Release year: 2024
• Director: Ali Abbasi.
• Producers: Ali Abbasi, Daniel Bekerman, Julianne Forde, Jacob Jarek, Louis Tisné and Ruth Treacy.
• Screenplay by: Gabriel Sherman.
• Cinematography by: Kasper Tuxen.
• Music by: Martin Dirkov, David Holmes and Brian Irvine.

Shotgun Commentary: did we really need another biopic about how a rich white guy with daddy issues gets richer? Doubtful.

Review

The Apprentice is a film that offers good-quality storytelling, nice acting and characterisation… and little else. It is hard to find the relevance of this particular piece of Trump’s life considering everything he’s done afterwards. In comparison, the narrative is closer to an outdated The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), only the protagonist is anything but interesting.

Average and balding

The feature follows the convicted felon from the moment he begins his criminal career until a little after the man he was trying to copy dies. Other than highlighting his lack of originality and his fragile character, the aim of the film is unclear. The content remains quite objective for a biopic. Sadly, it doesn’t dive too much into the most uncomfortable parts of the ex-president’s life, and it ends far enough into the past to not ruffle any feathers. This shows caution and restraint, a position that is difficult to understand considering the subject of study. Makes you wonder why bother making a biopic about him at all if you are going to choose this perspective.

Lack of relevance and detail aside, the little content that is shown is representative enough of the type of person he is. It shows an aggressive businessman with no scruples or basic decency. A man so egotistical and money-hungry he’s willing to step on anyone to get what he wants, like a mindless child throwing a tantrum to get a lollipop.

The film goes as far as showing the time he’s willing to con his own family into giving him money. All so he can pay off the debts he owes because he’s trying to build more than he can handle. Granted, he has a difficult relationship with his father, but taking advantage of his dementia to scam him is a few steps too far. Then again, he’s never shown any regard for any human being other than himself, so it really isn’t that surprising.

How many women are voters again?

Seeing a convicted rapist shamelessly drooling over women, cheating on his wife and raping her comes as no surprise at this point in history. It doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable or revolting to watch, but it’s not exactly news. Still, it is quite tragic that this sort of behaviour doesn’t make anyone bat an eye any more. Especially when the performance is so well done in the film that you actually get nauseous.

Maria Bakalova in the role of Ivana Trump is absolutely brilliant. Ivana’s relationship to Trump has always been a bit of a mind twister. Much like Melania, it feels mind-blowing that a person would be willing to endure living with such an unsavoury creature. Much less birthing his kids or attending any events to celebrate him.

Bakalova offers an account that explains about 20% of the situation. Failing to achieve more since the film shows very little of her after her rape. A bit of a mistake to have her as an afterthought, really, considering she’s the most compelling character after Roy.

Sterile imagination

Another victim of Trump’s egomania is Roy Cohn, a character that, luckily, is a lot more present in the movie than Ivana. The obviously unbalanced relationship the two of them have is almost as funny as Trump’s blatant copy of Cohn’s personality. He has managed to imitate the lawyer in every way except for one: intelligence.

With the power of hindsight, Cohn’s three rules for life are probably the most hilarious bit about the movie. Not so much what they are and what they entail, but how cheap and faulty Trump’s reading of them is. Much like a school bully trying to copy an exam he can barely read, the twisted result of blindly following rules he never understood is, quite simply put, a bad joke. A joke that would be incredibly funny had it not affected so many people.

During the viewing of the feature, Socrates’ quote wouldn’t stop springing to mind: “all I know is that I know nothing”. Trump is the perfect example of the opposite. A man who barely knows how to put one foot in front of the other, explaining to his doctor how medicine and physical activity work, is at the same time peak comedy and the saddest tragedy.

Talent showcase

The delusion of thinking you are the smartest in the room everywhere you go speaks volumes of the depth of your ignorance. A concept that hasn’t quite reached the protagonist of the picture. A man that is brought to life by Sebastian Stan. The Romanian actor absolutely nails all the facial expressions and manner of speech of the real-life character. He even achieves a physical resemblance thanks to a makeup department that definitely had their work cut out for them trying to hide his distinct facial bone structure.

Last but not least, Jeremy Strong seems to have taken a liking to evil businessman roles. Roy Cohn is the last of a list that seems to be getting longer by the day, with iconic roles like Kendall Roy (Succession, 2018-2023) and Matthew (The Gentlemen, 2019). Once more, Strong’s delivery is flawless, managing to make an absolutely unscrupulous, cruel man charming and heartbreaking. The depth of his character offers a noticeable contrast with Trump’s simpler personality. Additionally, his physical resemblance connects the fiction to the reality quite excellently. Again, of course, with the aid of the marvellous hairstyle and makeup departments.

All in all, The Apprentice is a completely irrelevant story narrated neatly by talented professionals and acted out by a fantastic cast. It is somewhat of a reminder that Donald Trump was a horrible human being long before becoming as internationally relevant as he is now.

Thanks to Studio Canal for big screen access! The Apprentice will be released the 18th of October in the UK.

Advice to take from this movie:

• If you are a horrible human being that hangs out with horrible human beings, chances are, you won’t have anyone to turn to when you are in need.
• Man’s stupidity really is limitless.
• Choosing a partner for their money is the best way to end up being a pet or a decoration instead of a partner.

What’s your take? Have you watched The Apprentice? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀