Donald Trump is probably one of the most talked about former presidents of the United States, not only because of his vision of the world and the laws he implemented when he served as the 45th president of the US, but also because of the lawsuits he’s involved in and the alleged things he has done. You would almost forget that before all this happened, he was ”just” somebody trying to make it in the real estate business. If you don’t remember that, director Ali Abbasi (Border, Holy Spider) is here to remind you. In The Apprentice, he takes you back to the early ’70s, and while highlighting Trump’s (Sebastian Stan) life and achievements in the feature, he also zooms in on his notorious lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). While both Stan and Strong give tremendous performances, the director just plays it a bit too safe narrative-wise.
Don’t expect to see a man who furiously rants during rallies and attracts massive crowds. No, Abbasi has none of that. Maybe that’s a movie for another time, but in The Apprentice, it’s about Stan transforming into the more awkward and inexperienced, but still driven Trump who certainly wants to make it into the world. If it wasn’t for the tremendous hair, makeup, and prosthetics by Sean Samsom (Total Recall, IT), Stan’s character could be someone like you and me.
It’s only during the latter parts of this feature that you can tell when looking at the behaviour that Stan (Sharper, A Different Man) is indeed portraying the ex-president. It’s when the body starts to change, the face starts to get rounder, and Trump’s determination and ambition start to become even bigger that Trump comes to life. From then on, we also get a closer look at Trump’s relationship with Ivana (Maria Bakalova). Until a point, their relationship has been like any other. The guy clumsily but successfully seduces the woman; they get married and have kids. However, once ambition and fame rise to Trump’s head, his marriage crumbles. The amount of fights and their strength accumulate, and the sexual encounters become even rougher. Abbasi might not clarify if the sex is mutual, but it certainly looks painful and violent.
That particular scene will also again prove the fantastic talent that is Bakalova (Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, Fairyland). This Oscar-nominated actress gets the chance to step into the spotlight fully and to get the attention she well and truly deserves. Bakalova excels in portraying Ivana as a very nuanced, likable, and determined person and a woman who’s equally ambitious as her husband.
One of the probable reasons – besides wanting to stay as objective towards the topic as possible – the filmmaker didn’t create more of those scenes or dared to include more drama, mystery, and intrigue is because there’s not a place for deep psychological analysis in this feature. Abbasi and writer Gabriel Sherman (Independence Day: Resurgence, The Loudest Voice) mainly show Trump as someone any aspiring businessman can relate to. Going from collecting rent door-to-door in a shy way to building your own tower, casinos, and empire is something many men out there dream of.
However, as mentioned before, The Apprentice isn’t solely about Trump’s rise to fame. No, it’s also about Cohn, the lawyer by his side from almost the beginning. While being cocky doesn’t fully come naturally to Trump, Cohn has cockiness and confidence in bucketloads straight from the start. After meeting the nervous and uneasy Trump in an exclusive NY club, Cohn takes him under his wing. It becomes apparent straight away that his three rules (“Attack. Attack. Attack”, “Admit nothing. Deny everything”, and “Always claim victory and never admit defeat”), the way the cold-hearted lawyer treats others and Cohn’s posture will have a significant impact on the man Trump will become later in life.
Just like the character he portrays, Strong (Succession, The Gentlemen) is a winner. His multidimensional performance doesn’t only capture the mercilessness and complexity of his character but also the more emotional and fragile side. Abbasi isn’t afraid to include Cohn’s battle against AIDS and the way the disease has both an impact on his professional and personal lives. Then, the rough, tough performance transforms into a much somber and human but still outstanding one.
The Apprentice probably won’t win the Palme d’Or this year, but that doesn’t mean the movie is bad. On the contrary, the chameleonic aspect of Stan’s performance, the multidimensional acting by Strong, and the compelling Bakalova ensure that this character study of Trump is worth the watch.
The Apprentice held its World Premiere as a part of the In Competition section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Director: Ali Abbasi
Screenwriter: Gabriel Sherman
Rated: NR
Runtime: 120m
While The Apprentice can count on three great multilayered lead performances, director Abbasi plays it too safe narrative-wise.
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GVN Rating
Subtitle translator by day. Film journalist by night.
