21/12
CutlerPublished by BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Synopsis
The story of how a young Donald Trump started his real estate business in 1970s and 1980s New York City with the help of infamous lawyer Roy M. Cohn. Roger Stone, a longtime associate of both Donald Trump and Roy M. Cohn, admitted that Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Cohn was “remarkable in its accuracy.” [From the trailer] Roy Cohn: Rule Three: No matter what happens, claim victory and never admit defeat. Appeared in The 7PM Project: Episode dated October 11, 2024 (2024). Anti Anti AntiPerformed by ConsumersLicensed courtesy of Domino Publishing Company Limited, (PRS) obo In The Red RecordingsWritten by Paul B.
I thought the casting was good and the performances, excellent
The first thing to say is that I was relieved that this movie didn’t do what the trailer suggested it might…..i. And they portray Roy Cohn as a Rasputin figure, who “made” Trump the absolute horror that he is. While, yes, Cohn was certainly (according to this portrayal), an extremely morally bankrupt and vile man who helped fuel the flames of hell that now burn so viciously in Trump, he was not used as a scapegoat. Trump was, thankfully, shown to be fully accountable for being the absolute narcissist and arrogant nightmare that he is!. He was not let loose, nor made to look like a lamb that was whipped into becoming a wolf. Secondly, The Apprentice was certainly engaging, well-made, interesting and worth watching.
I’m not sure what though
Far from “impressions” or impersonations: Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan embodied their roles and clearly studied them well, sensing far beyond the superficial appearance of Trump and Cohn. The film brilliantly captured the time and place, the vibe and political landscape of the time. It was authentic and there were no caricatures of people or settings/times. However, despite so many commendable aspects, The Apprentice failed to have much of an emotional impact on me… I feel like it was missing something… Maybe it’s just because the people portrayed (aside from Ivana), are so unlikeable?
I’m not sure
On the other hand, I know that some films are meant to be interesting and more of a study and/or give the audience insights that were previously absent. Not all films or stories are told with the intention of evoking deep emotions or leaving us impressed/changed. I’ve just watched some incredibly moving and “wow” films recently, so I’ve been a little spoiled! I’m sure there are many people (most!) who could give a much more intelligent and critical review of The Apprentice, than I can/have done here. So forgive me if I missed a lot of important points and observations. I’m glad I saw it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys biopics or films/books that are character studies.
I wouldn’t be surprised if after a while, I felt a little more or differently about the film
I have a feeling it might be one that one needs to “sit down” with for a while. Check out our list of exciting new films from this year’s film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and more.