The Apprentice

Ali Abbasi does some solid directing work when he tells Trump’s story in a stylised way with a variable period patina and doesn’t allow himself to be tempted by the potential for an exceedingly glamorous spectacle about the (morally) poor rich. He has self-assured actors and good rhythm in fragments, but Gabriel Sherman’s screenplay is really very superficial and cautiously skims over situations. The film thus lacks a greater catch beyond summarising facts and conjectures that are already generally known. Fortunately, the film has a great dominant level with the character of Roy Cohn, uncompromisingly portrayed by Jeremy Strong, who maniacally immerses himself in the role. Sebastian Stan gets the job done, but he really doesn’t stand much of a chance against the portrait of the man who created the pragmatic monster, who in turn devours his creator and takes only the worst from him. Cohn’s swan song is touching and devastating, which stands out in a film that is otherwise “just” a decent and non-tabloidish biopic. (11.09.2024)

The Apprentice offers a dispassionate look at the rise of Donald Trump and his transformation from a naive and bland underdog to an egotistical, spineless, narcissistic monster. Sebastian Stan, as Trump, is absolutely superb in his role, but perhaps even a hair better is Jeremy Strong as the lawyer Roy Cohn, to whom Donald objectively owes his rise, even though he is probably a stranger to the word "owed". Jeremy Strong was a great choice, this type of role suits him, as we could see already in Succession. The film is engaging and doesn't bore for a second, but I do have one huge complaint, and that is the choice of actress Maria Bakalova for the role of Ivana Zelníčková. I understand that we all sound the same to westerners from the east, and probably look the same... but I just found her Russian accent and appearance off-putting. And it was so confusing at times, I was like, wait a minute, is that supposed to be Ivana? Don't tell me it couldn't have been otherwise... [Festival de Cannes 2024] (24.05.2024)

An entertaining portrait of young Donald Trump as a go-getting property developer with an enormous appetite for business. Not as a politician. Trumps first wife, Ivana, his father, mafioso Tony Salerno, Andy Warhol and especially attorney Roy Cohn, who helped Trump break into the real-estate elite of New York – the important characters in Trump’s life are depicted with refreshing authenticity and documentary-style veracity, in 4:3 television format, often even with VHS tape noise in the picture, giving us that exact feeling of the eighties and nineties that we haven’t had in any feature film for a long time. Director Ali Abbasi takes the characters on a journey through the megalomaniacal American Dream, without pointing a finger at any of them, but rather taking them as people with their own specific priorities and weaknesses. Sebastian Stan is good as Trump and Jeremy Strong is excellent as Cohn. Just don’t expect Scorsese, who’s better suited to the glamorous veneer of Casino. The Apprentice has the nature of a made-for-TV movie. [Cannes FF] (25.05.2024)