A young Donald Trump’s moral compass goes awry as he aspires for more in the drama The Apprentice, a surprisingly entertaining movie that simultaneously humanizes the former U.S. president while depicting his descent into full-blown narcissistic asshole-ness.
The Winter Soldier himself, Sebastian Stan, immerses himself in the role, looking and playing the part well while avoiding becoming a caricature. Aided by some solid but unobtrusive makeup and hair work, Stan does come off as a young Trump, someone who is a bit too impressionable but also learns to play to his strengths.
The Apprentice revolves around his relationship with lawyer Roy Cohn, who teaches him his surefire rules of winning in business (“never apologize” and “always attack” are two that help explain why modern Trump seems to never back down from a political fight, even when doing so seemingly defies common sense).
As good as Stan is, it’s Jeremy Strong who swoops in with the commanding performance. Given that Trump is largely incapable of showing real emotion, it’s Cohn’s character that gets an emotional (though not necessarily compassionate) arc. Strong’s portrayal of Cohn may not be that much of a stretch from his “Succession” character, but he plays the ruthless character with conviction and tenacity.
The Apprentice is an effective little drama, even if it ultimately doesn’t accomplish a whole lot. What’s interesting about it is that for a while, Trump is shown in a semi-positive light; he’s just a son trying to get out from under his father’s shadow. In fact, aside from one or two scenes, I imagine a narcissist like Trump would actually appreciate this portrayal. And yet, just beneath the surface, The Apprentice is an exploration of an egomaniac who adapts to win at any cost (and as we’ve discovered, even when he loses, he’ll still say he wins–never apologize, remember).
MAGA supporters are unlikely to watch this movie, while Trump haters may be disappointed that this movie isn’t the scathing indictment you’d might expect. I give director Ali Abassi (who made the captivating Iranian thriller Holy Spider) props for not leaning too far left (or right), though The Apprentice, like Trump himself, feels a bit like an empty shill. It’s entertaining, it’s well done, and yet it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression. That may be the greatest insult to Trump yet.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.