THE APPRENTICE Review - Warped Factor - Words in the Key of Geek.

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THE APPRENTICE Review

The Apprentice is not a nuanced exploration of character, rather it is the cinematic equivalent of watching a slow-motion train wreck, fueled by hubris, manipulation, and a particularly toxic brand of ego. And as the wreck unfolds, it becomes painfully clear that we are all unwitting playthings caught in its path, grappling with the debris of its far-reaching consequences. Director Ali Abbasi demonstrates a flair for tension and unease in this tale, but his talents can’t entirely salvage a story weighed down by the toxicity of its central figure.

The film plays out like the origin story of a super villain, following Donald Trump’s meteoric rise in the 1970s and 1980s, charting his early ventures into real estate, and his cultivation of a public persona. Written by Gabriel Sherman, the screenplay meticulously details Trump’s morally bankrupt tactics, including his alliance with Roy Cohn and his exploitation of public and private institutions. The narrative spans critical moments: Trump’s early meetings with Cohn, the fraught relationship with his father Fred Trump Sr., his marriage to Ivana Trump, and his increasingly reckless business ventures.

Sebastian Stan steps into the role of Trump with a magnetic performance that captures the superficial charm and ruthless ambition that characterized his ascent. Stan brings an impressive physicality and emotional range to the role, managing to embody Trump’s contradictions: the brash confidence masking insecurity, the fixation on appearances at the expense of substance. While the script occasionally reduces Trump to a collection of tics and bombast, Stan’s portrayal provides depth, making his performance one of the film’s standout achievements.

Similarly, Maria Bakalova delivers an exceptional performance as Ivana Trump, bringing depth and agency to a role that could have easily been overshadowed. Ivana’s moments of vulnerability and strength provide some of the film’s most compelling scenes, offering a glimpse of the human cost of Trump’s relentless ambition. Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn is chillingly effective, exuding menace and manipulation in every scene. Martin Donovan as Fred Trump Sr. and Catherine McNally as Mary Anne Trump ground the narrative in familial dysfunction, their performances hinting at the early influences that shaped Trump’s worldview.

The storyline doesn’t shy away from Trump’s more controversial and troubling behaviors. Scenes of him exploiting his father’s dementia, his calculated cruelty toward Ivana, and his self-serving alliances with figures like Roger Stone (Mark Rendall) and Rupert Murdoch (Tom Barnett) paint a damning portrait. Charlie Carrick’s Fred Trump Jr. provides a stark contrast to Donald, with his tragic arc serving as one of the few genuinely moving elements of the film.

Visually, the film is impeccable. Abbasi’s meticulous attention to detail shines through in the lavish depictions of Manhattan’s gilded excesses and the grimy backrooms where deals are brokered. The cinematography is dark and moody, reflecting the moral murkiness of the story. The haunting score underscores the themes of greed and ambition, elevating the tension in key moments.

Yet, The Apprentice struggles to find its footing in its narrative. The pacing feels uneven, with the first half bogged down by excessive detail and the second rushing through pivotal moments in Trump’s rise. By the time the film reaches its climactic moments—including Trump’s musings about becoming President and his chilling recounting of Roy Cohn’s "three rules"—the impact is dulled by the lack of emotional detachment.

While it’s clear that Abbasi and Sherman do not hold back on their portrait of Trump, The Apprentice is certainly not the hack-job the orange man himself professes it to be, rather it feels like a worryingly true to life depiction of greed and how it corrupts. Take a wealthy young man who was raised on a family diet of corruption, racism, entitlement and power, add an unhealthy dose of the cynicism and corporate greed of the 1970s and 80s, and your left with a shallow, self-obsessed, insecure, megalomaniac with an arsenal of nurtured sociopathic tendencies. A symptom of the very culture he exploited.

No matter your thoughts on Donald Trump, The Apprentice is worth watching for its performances and visual craftsmanship. Stan, Bakalova, Strong, Donovan, and Carrick elevate the material, and Abbasi’s direction ensures that the film is never less than engrossing. As a biographical drama, it's more style than substance, yet remains a scathing indictment of ambition run amok, 

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