As America begrudgingly counts down the days to a contentious November election, Hollywood tackles the Republican nominee’s ascent to power. Filmmaker Ali Abbasi’s Trump biopic, “The Apprentice,” doesn’t offer a concrete political take. It doesn’t sensationalize or demonize, instead opting to let the former president’s actions speak for themselves.
The only thesis “The Apprentice” aims to convey is that the man we know today, from his personality and politics to his mindset, has existed for quite some time. Now a profoundly divisive, inescapable contemporary figure, the movie shows that Donald Trump has been clawing for power since the ‘70s.
Though lacking anything particularly revelatory, “The Apprentice” is a fascinating, relevant portrait of a domineering mind. Sebastian Stan’s transformative lead performance, coupled with outstanding support from Jeremy Strong, produces a grimly comical, gripping horror show.
“The Apprentice” zeroes in on a young, eager Donald Trump, hoping to erect his legacy as a New York property tycoon. His trajectory quickly changes at the hands of cutthroat attorney Roy Cohn, who recognizes Trump as an ideal protégé and teaches him what it takes to be a winner. Gliding through decades of their relationship, the film sees an ambitious young man evolve into an egotistical, unrelenting figure of wealth and authority.
Although the casting of Hollywood heartthrob and Marvel mainstay Stan might have come out of left field, he crushes this role out of the park, encapsulating Trump down to the subtlest lip movement. His voice isn’t a one-to-one match, but it doesn’t have to be. What he’s saying and how he expresses himself embodies the former president far more deeply than any impersonator could.
In the beginning, he plays Trump as a pathetic wannabe, pitifully leeching on to his father’s success. Slowly but surely, he becomes increasingly recognizable, sporting Trump’s iconic hand gestures and hyperbolic tendencies. Stan captures a more spritely, well-adjusted side of Trump that gradually fizzles into the unpredictable lunacy of today. It’s almost frightening how well he can mirror portions of a man while offering inkling after inkling on the portions to come. Sometimes he’s funny, sometimes he’s aggressive and sometimes he’s abhorrent. Stan accesses it all.
Strong, who rose to acclaim as Kendall Roy in “Succession,” molds into Roy Cohn. His sunken, zombie eyes match his monotone New York accent. He’s calmly manipulative, uttering the most appalling things you’ll hear with the softest, goofiest cadence. As Trump outlasts his need for Cohn, Strong grows weaker, appearing like a corpse as sickness takes over. Above anything else, it’s Strong and Stan that make this movie.
Maria Bakalova, as Ivana Trump, contributes another excellent performance. Her fascination with Trump, particularly his money, morphs into disgust as he grows increasingly power-hungry and erratic.
Transitioning into the technical side of the aisle, “The Apprentice” is thoroughly well-executed. It’s primarily shot in a documentary/mockumentary style, which helps sell its reality. There’s a graininess to the camera that effectively captures the time period as if it were presented through the media decades ago.
The production design and costumes also represent the 1970s and 1980s effectively. Trump Tower’s lavish, gaudy interiors are the perfect eye-sore. Bakalova’s various hairstyles are especially memorable.
The makeup is the brilliant cherry on top, sculpting Stan and Strong into unrecognizable versions of themselves. In all aspects, the film does a great job of illuminating the passage of time through appearance.
Abbasi’s “The Apprentice” will not change anyone’s mind. Everything here is widely known and accessible to all who wish to research Donald Trump’s life. But its spectacular performances produce an endlessly watchable glimpse into the formation of a fascinating figure. No matter one’s political affiliation, it’s worth a watch.
Popcorn rating: 4/5 bags of popcorn