The Apprentice Movie Review: One of the first thoughts I had as I walked out of the theatre after watching The Apprentice was — Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong are going to shake up the Oscars and how! My second thought was, ‘I cannot believe how much I am enjoying this film.’ Yes, the film is that good!
An origin story about ex-US President Donald Trump, The Apprentice is directed by acclaimed Iranian-Danish director Ali Abbasi, the man behind films such as Border (2018) and Holy Spider (2022). As the trailer has already revealed, the film is set in the 1970s and 1980s, and revolves around a man who rose from the streets of Queens, collecting rent from washed-up renters of the Trump Village to build multiple hotels in New York and take things to the next level in the Atlanta City. The film encapsulates the ruthless businessman’s growth into the New York real estate space under the guidance of his mentor, Roy Cohn.
Director Ali Abbasi and writer Gabriel Sherman help set the tone of the film by establishing the financial crisis the great USA was experiencing in the 1970s and 1980s, the high crime rates that had New York shivering in their alleys, and the outburst of AIDS that killed many in the late 1980s and early 1990s. You see a man offering sexual pleasures to Trump in exchange for $40 in the streets and the underground gay community exploring themselves while this businessman chases only one thing — financial deals that could make him the best.
The film almost seems like an aspiration story, somewhere making you wonder if Trump is all but a victim of bad influence. However, at four points in the film, Ali Abbasi metaphorically holds the audience’s heads and dips in the water to wipe off the hogwash the film creates, which makes you realise that Trump in the movie is a simple as***e. Each time, Abbasi doesn’t feel like he is trying to move the audience but also to wake potential voters who are eying for a Trump win in the upcoming US Elections.
The Apprentice wins big on the writing front — script and screenplay. A crisp two-hour film, the film is told from a delusional Trump’s viewpoint. From the word go, Abbasi doesn’t waste an ounce of time in delving into unnecessary details of Trump’s life. At the end of the film, there is a scene where Trump is seated with a journalist to pen his book. The journalist tries to scratch his otherwise emotional surface. Trump snaps and asks him to focus only on his journey to the top instead of looking for an emotional backstory. The Apprentice does exactly that.
Abbasi keeps the plot straightforward. The Apprentice opens with a naive Trump meeting and begging Roy to help him through a legal issue that he and his father have landed in. He builds it up to Trump transforming into an emotionless businessman, all while falling in and out of love with Ivana, losing his brother, and watching his mentor die with no remorse whatsoever.
Abbasi uses a chapter-like narration that seamlessly flows through the two hours and keeps you hooked throughout. He does a critical analysis of Trump and his surroundings, attempting to humanize the man who we believe has lost his mind to power with a ruthless glass. The storytelling style is worth the applause.
Another thing that works brilliantly in Abbasi’s favour is the cast. Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Maria Bakalova are the three well-oiled wheels that keep this vehicle rolling. Sebastian hits the bull’s eye when it comes to the nuances of Donald Trump’s behavior, the way he speaks, and the way he carries himself. However, Stan has an uneven accent, that does hinder the performance. The accent changed between different scenes and transitions.
Jeremy Strong has emerged as the strongest cast member of The Apprentice. There are scenes, especially in the court and when his character, Roy, is mentoring Trump that steals focus on Stan. You cannot stop yourself from hating the man to feeling pity for him when he breaks down at his last birthday party, owing to his flawless performance. I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes home the Best Actor Award at the Oscars 2025.
Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump is not only candy to the eyes but delivers a memorable performance. Maria shows her full potential in the much-talked-about sexual crime scene and the scene after it, when she is mentally preparing herself to force a smile. The scenes are spine-chilling.
Kudos to film editors Olivier Bugge Coutté and Olivia Neergaard-Holm for keeping the film’s pace steady, making The Apprentice an engaging watch.
Bottom Line: Regardless of your stand in the political stands in the current US elections, you should definitely watch The Apprentice, whenever it releases in India.
Comments
0 comment