By Joanna Orland
The Apprentice is a period piece and character study, which follows Donald Trump’s (Sebastian Stan) ascension to real-estate power and wealth in the 1970s and 80s. Examining his relationship with right-wing lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the main focus of the film is how Cohn took Trump under his wing to mold him into the man we know today. Trump meets his inner circle through Cohn, featuring the likes of Roger Stone and Rupert Murdoch. This film suggests that Trump fully got to where he is today because of the inspiration and knowledge he took from Cohn.
‘The Apprentice’ Shows Us Donald Trump’s Coming-of-Age in Business
“The Apprentice” title may relate directly to Donald Trump’s infamous television show which propelled him to huge mainstream fame. But, in the case of the film, it relates to the role he took on with his mentor Roy Cohn. Trump first approaches Cohn for help on a lawsuit he faces with his father’s company, and is immediately enthralled by the power Cohn wields through his corrupt and morally compromised ways. It’s almost as if you can see Trump taking notes on how Cohn operates, creating a playbook for his own future endeavours. Cohn explains his three cardinal rules — Attack, attack, attack. Admit nothing, deny everything. Claim victory and never admit defeat. This all sounds a bit familiar in relation to today’s Trump.
As the film progresses, Cohn’s presence is pushed aside to focus more on Trump graduating from student to teacher in the ways of Roy Cohn. He brushes Cohn aside when the AIDs crisis hits, his homophobia and fear of the disease is stronger than what Cohn has left to offer him. Trump is shown as a cheap and disloyal friend and business partner, and even disregards the man who made him who he is. He treats his family even worse as he ignores his brothers’ pleas for help, and throws his sisters under the bus as he tries to get his senile father to sign over their trust. Trump is portrayed as only out for himself, and this film gives us example after example of this from his past, while never going deeper than what we already know from his literal biography.
Visually and stylistically, the film creates a wonderful period piece, encompassing 70s and 80s music alongside appropriately dated videotape style cinematography. The fashion and aesthetic is absolutely perfect to portray the era. The luxury that Donald and Ivana lavish themselves in is beautifully cheapened by this 80s lens, having it come across as really vulgar and gawky — a perfect sentiment for how it’s widely viewed today by the younger generation.
Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong Create Characters, Not Caricatures, of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn
When hearing that Sebastian Stan is taking on the role of Donald Trump, it’s quite difficult to imagine that transformation being believable. But Stan’s turn as Trump goes beyond a caricature and becomes a remarkable characterization. As a young Trump, the wigs, prosthetics, and makeup do a fine job to mask the actor, and help him fully embody the role of Trump. The recognizable voice and speech patterns we’re used to from Trump are there, but not as exaggerated as you’d find in an SNL sketch, for example. As Trump ages in the film, the mannerisms become harsher, but never in a hack impression sort of way. It’s a restrained performance of a larger-than-life character, and Stan does such a wonderful job, it almost humanizes a man that so many demonize. Not in a truly sympathetic way, but in a neutral fashion that allows us to see Donald as a person rather than as just a divisive political figure.
Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn delves even deeper in portraying the often-hated Cohn as an ambitious person, giving some insight into how he worked — not so much the why, but definitely the how. The brash and morally corrupt side of him is on display in the first half of the film, but then when the AIDs crisis takes over, as Cohn loses his lover to the disease, and then later succumbs himself, Strong almost makes you feel pity for the man who would never show pity or mercy to anyone else. As Trump turns on Cohn, Strong’s performance turns inwards into a quieter, more reflective take on the man. If played by anyone other than Strong, who even made a bratty narcissist like Kendall Roy beloved and sympathetic, perhaps it would be easier to brush off Cohn as a terrible man who got what he deserved. The film doesn’t go as far as to say he’s not, but it does show some humanity behind Strong’s dark and intense stares. Knowing what we do of Jeremy Strong’s penchant for method acting, I feel sorry for those around him as he took on the role of Roy Cohn.
Maria Bakalova plays Donald’s first wife, Ivana Trump. Her character is perhaps the most sympathetic of the three main cast, and Bakalova does a wonderful job showing Ivana as a wife, mother, and ambitious entrepreneur. She’s got a great energy to her that radiates off of the screen, but isn’t given as much to do as Donald or Roy, often put in the position of a victim, or collateral damage.
Who is ‘The Apprentice’ For?
What hurts The Apprentice is not its controversial or divisive subject matter, but its failure to take a stance. This film wanders amiss through its story and characters’ lives, but it doesn’t have a viewpoint. Who exactly is this movie for? It’s not going to convince anyone to vote or not vote for Trump. It doesn’t give actual insight into what he’s really thinking behind the hyped-up facade. It perhaps gives a little context as to why he’s as driven as he is, and some of the tactics he uses, but generally, it’s not delving too deep into what makes Trump, Trump.
Perhaps the main moral of the movie is not actually anything to do with Trump specifically, but more focused on Roy Cohn learning that you reap what you sow. How Trump coldly turns on Cohn during the second half of the movie, is something Cohn has always done to his friends, enemies, or anyone who stood in his way. Trump takes every page out of Cohn’s playbook, and continues to do so to this day.
The Apprentice is quite an even-handed look at Trump’s past and the path that led him to where he is today. More of a character portrait than a true study, the film treats its famed characters like humans rather than caricatures, and doesn’t take an overt stance on what it makes of all of the documented corruption. Perhaps there is no need for the film to be loud about its thoughts on Trump, as Trump’s actions speak for themselves — but still, it is not really clear why this movie was made, or who it’s for.
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The Apprentice
Directed by Ali Abbasi
Starring Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova, and Martin Donovan
In Cinemas October 11th, 2024
