PremiumThe Apprentice Review: A Real-Life Anti-Hero's Ruthless Rise – Tragic, Sharp, and Darkly Brilliant
The Apprentice with Sebastian Stan is aware it is telling a story of a problematic figure and it sticks to that without ever wanting you to look at him any other way.
The Apprentice Review
Last Updated: 11.24 AM, Oct 17, 2024
The Apprentice Review: Plot: Based on the life of former American president Donald Trump (played by Sebastian Stan), The Apprentice takes us back to the 1970s when Trump was a young man trying to break into the world of the rich and powerful. He falls under the influence of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), a ruthless attorney who always gets what he wants. Cohn became the mentor who shaped Trump into the man we know today.
The Apprentice Review: Analysis
Cinema reflects society—the good, the bad, and the evil—and often serves as a document for future generations. The responsibility on filmmakers is immense because they’re essentially writing history with each project. When Ali Abbasi decided to tell the story of one of the most controversial figures of our generation, Donald Trump, it became clear he aimed to explore the dark side of a man who’s both admired and despised. The Apprentice does not attempt to soften Trump’s image. Instead, it presents him with disgust, which is entirely appropriate given the questionable actions the man has taken throughout his life. This is where the film, led by Sebastian Stan, finds its success.
Written by Gabriel Sherman and directed by Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice centers on a man who has openly insulted disabled people, showing disrespect for many, and even called the filmmaker behind this project “human scum.” There is no subtlety in the way Trump’s life is translated onto the screen. Trump is a polarizing figure, and the film doesn’t attempt to disguise the fact that his life has been a series of self-serving decisions. The writing doesn't attempt to shape Trump into something he's not. For those familiar with his real-life persona, they already know the darker aspects of his character. And for those who refuse to acknowledge it, they likely aren't in the audience anyway.
The focus of the film is on showing how Trump’s humanity faded with each decision he made, and how he was perhaps never truly humane at his core. The Apprentice follows a 27-year-old Trump as he meets Roy Cohn, a lawyer obsessed with winning at all costs. Cohn is ruthless, viewing the poor as irrelevant and the rich as his cash cows. He becomes Trump’s mentor, and the two are essentially the same person at different stages in life. The film tracks Trump’s transformation, where each step brings him closer to Cohn’s level of ruthless ambition.
The film’s approach is one of its strongest aspects. Rather than humanizing Trump or exploring what made him the way he is, The Apprentice focuses on how Trump transitioned from bad to worse, eventually becoming the President of the United States. It's akin to the origin story of an anti-hero, but this anti-hero is a real person. Each time the audience laughs at the absurdity of Trump’s actions, they're reminded that this man held one of the most powerful positions in the world and is still vying for it again.
Ali Abbasi’s warning is clear: Trump’s behavior—his greed, arrogance, and lack of empathy—has not only shaped his legacy but continues to be relevant in today’s political landscape. Through Sebastian Stan’s performance, the audience witnesses Trump’s gradual transformation, not just in his actions but also in his appearance. The film avoids relying on heavy prosthetics, instead focusing on Stan’s performance, which is one of the best of the year. Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Roy Cohn is equally impressive, playing him as a soulless, zombie-like figure who only cares about getting his way. Strong is bound to take home several awards for this role.
However, The Apprentice falters in some areas. For example, a sequence depicting Trump raping his wife feels abrupt and disconnected from the film's overall narrative. While it aims to shed light on his former wife’s struggles, it doesn’t seem to fit seamlessly within the story. Similarly, the scenes where Trump undergoes surgeries to look younger are excessively gory and could have been handled with more nuance.
The Apprentice Review: Final Verdict
Donald Trump has called The Apprentice “a cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job, put out to try and hurt the greatest political movement in the history of our country.” With that, you now know you must watch this film—because it has made its subject deeply uncomfortable.
Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on this film and other developments in the world of streaming and movies.