‘The Apprentice’ Movie Review: Sebastian Stan’s Compelling Performance As Young Donald Trump Wows Critics in Ali Abbasi’s Film
‘The Apprentice’ is written by Gabriel Sherman and directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi. The film stars Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn.
The Apprentice, a biographical drama, explores Donald Trump’s early career and the obstacles he encountered while striving to establish himself in the competitive New York real estate market of the 1970s and 1980s. Starring Sebastian Stan in the lead role, the film has garnered critical acclaim for his impressive portrayal of young Trump, with reviewers praising his ability to convey the character’s complexities under the direction of Ali Abbasi. Jeremy Strong plays Roy Cohn, a New York City prosecutor known for his association with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare. ‘The Apprentice’ Trailer: Jeremy Strong’s Right-Wing Lawyer Roy Cohn Guides Sebastian Stan’s Young Donald Trump in Ali Abbasi’s Film (Watch Video).
The plot of The Apprentice reads: “Set during the early years of Trump’s business career, the film focuses on the relationship of Trump and Roy Cohn, a New York City prosecutor known for working with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare.” Take a look at some of the reviews below:
The Spokesman: “Abbasi’s “The Apprentice,” written by Vanity Fair political reporter and Roger Ailes biographer Gabriel Sherman, is a portrait of the former president as a young man. Stan delivers the performance of his career, embodying Trump from the early 1970s to the 1990s.”
Slug Mag: “Stan is mesmerizing as Trump, disappearing into the character and capturing the mannerisms and facial expressions with an eerie accuracy without ever letting it become an impersonation rather than a nuanced characterization. It’s the definitive screen portrayal to date, and firmly establishes Stan as an actor to be taken seriously.”
Watch ‘The Apprentice’ Trailer Below:
BBC: “Stan nails Trump's movements and facial expressions, but he makes the wise decision not to attempt an impersonation or a caricature, instead playing the character as an insecure and impressionable lost soul who has no idea how to have a conversation, and who keeps stopping besides parked cars to check how his wispy hair looks in their windows. It's an excellent, nuanced performance that could make Trump sympathetic, whatever your political leanings. You might not agree with Abbasi's approach, but it's certainly a bold one.”
The Washington Post: “Strong has the showier performance; his Cohn is reptilian and mesmerizingly assured, the snake in the garden of the Big Apple. Stan, by contrast, does something sneakier — an unnerving combination of technique, impersonation and inhabiting.”
Mashable: “But even while Stan becomes “Trumpier,” his performance never veers into caricature. As horrifying as many of the things Trump does in this movie are — including an upsetting scene of marital rape — it’s clear The Apprentice doesn’t wish to ridicule outright.”
The Apprentice made its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024, where it received acclaim for its engaging storytelling and strong performances. Written by Gabriel Sherman, the film is set to be released in India on October 17.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2024 10:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).