The Apprentice
Directed by Ali Abbasi
Written by Gabriel Sherman
Starring Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Maria Bakalova
Runtime 2 hours
MPAA Rating R for sexual assault, language, drug use, sexual content, and some graphic nudity
In theaters October 11

by Rosalie Kicks, Editor in Chief and Old Sport

“You have to be willing to do anything to anyone to win…”

Initially I was not interested in viewing The Apprentice. Like most human beings with a brain, I have had my fill of Donald Trump. There was no way in hell I was going to sit through a two hour tale about him, his nefarious antics, and wispy hair. That was until three specific things changed my mind.

1. I learned it was directed by Ali Abbasi; the filmmaker behind the phenomenal 2022 motion picture Holy Spider.

2. The film itself was described to me from a viewer at Fantastic Fest as a “Frankenstein tale”.

3. Sebastian Stan can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes. Even when he plays despicable beings he still cooks. Remember him as Jeff Gillooly in I, Tonya or what about as Steve in Fresh? I do not think he was born to play Donald J. Trump, but he sure as hell slid into his loafers to provide an uncanny performance.

After viewing The Apprentice I have no regrets. I am, however, left unsure as to who this picture is intended for. Trump’s mindless cult members will most likely not watch this flick, yet will still have adamant opinions that it is nothing more than slander. Those who despise Trump will most likely feel they do not need the added angst or stress with the election looming. Regardless, much of what is presented is not new information nor will it shock. If anything, my biggest takeaway was that Abbasi solidifies a tale as old as time and that is, a monster is not born, they are indeed created.

We first meet a late twenty something Donald J. Trump (Sebestian Stan) while he wines and dines a young woman in an exclusive club in New York City. He’s quick to inform her that he is the youngest member to be invited and says it in such a manner that she clearly owes him something for the privilege of being there. He has no game whatsoever. It is also here where Trump first encounters the smarmy, ruthless attorneyn Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). This specific meeting inevitably becomes the backbone of the entire runtime. Roy, a closeted gay man that masks as a homophobe, is instantly taken (smitten) with the seemingly naive dunce that is Donald. So much so, that he decides to not only represent the Trump family in a discrimination lawsuit that has been brought against them by the Department of Justice regarding their tenant rental practices, but he also decides to take the eager wannabe real estate mogul under his wing.

From the start, Roy seems more interested in having a doting, impressionable ward than actually providing any sort of mentorship. Cohn is portrayed as a person that is talking at you, not with you. He has no concern for what anyone is saying, thinking, or feeling. In fact, one of his three key tips to winning that he staunchly shares with Donald early on is that one is always to be in “attack” mode. This piece of advice is something Donald utilizes in all types of transactions, whether it be personal or business. It is difficult to miss the semblance of a Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Roy, particularly in terms of his mannerisms. Much like like the grand Doctor grave robbing for old, dead body parts, nothing was beneath him. Also similar to Dr. Frankenstein, Cohn’s downfall was that he did not foresee that the monster he was creating would one day become an unmanageable brute.

To the surprise of no one, The Apprentice does not paint Trump in a good light. None of the revelations will be cause for people to faint in town square. Donald is a terrible person through and through, no doubt. What I feel might flabbergast is the fact that he is nothing more than a mere parrot, a simpleton that was once gifted a fancy suit from Fifth Avenue and in turn used it to waltz through life without ever having one original thought in his brain. A person that has based their entire personality and existence off of someone else while seemingly taking advantage of everyone and everything. Before their was Trump, there was Cohn. Even down to his peachy orange flesh, Trump is nothing more than a monstrous creation. I don’t believe it was Cohn’s intention for Trump to consume his entire personality. Yet, I found Roy’s bewilderment of being grifted by Trump quite amusing. What did he expect, sympathy?

Make no mistake, Sebastian Stan is an actor. I continue to be impressed with the roles he takes and how he delivers. (Hopefully this voting season people will be more inclined to recognize his efforts in Aaron Schimberg’s latest effort, A Different Man rather than the latter. Seb’s depiction as Edward in A Different Man is something to behold.) In The Apprentice, much praise should also be bestowed on actor, Jeremy Strong. He gives an impeccable performance as playing one of the most despicable human beings to ever walk planet earth. Never did I ever witness someone play slimy scum so well. I was equally impressed with the filmmaking aesthetics that are used throughout the picture. As Abbasi takes the viewer through each decade by making use of the film stock of that era. It was an interesting way to transition from the seventies to eighties and eventual nineties through the different types of grain.

At no point in time while watching The Apprentice did I empathize or have sympathy for Donald Trump. Nothing about him is authentic or genuine, he is simply a blob that slithers around the countryside devouring everything and everyone in his path. The most interesting aspect of the picture came to me well after I finished watching and that was that, through the entire runtime, not once did we meet a friend of Donald’s or even a close business associate of his. Even his wife, Ivana (Maria Bakalova) eventually can’t stand the sight of him. This guy has zero friendships. It is rather clear he does not deserve them, especially given the treatment of his own family. The scene depicted in which his alcoholic brother is asking for a lifeline and Donald is quick to kick him out the door is a narcissist on full display.

When I was a teenager, a pal of mine gave me a pin that stated “No child is born a racist, they are are made one”. This statement has always stuck with me. Sure, its meaning is simple. Yet, it is extremely powerful. Donald may not have been evil, but it is without a doubt that he was made to be. I remember thinking this was a weird choice to play as a secret screening at Fantastic Fest and now, having watched it, it all makes sense… this is a true American horror story.