Given the way Donald Trump has shaped the global political landscape over the past decade, it’s no surprise to see a dramatised biopic made about his life.  That said, we’ve been saturated with information over that same time period (he’s in the media every day) and so one must ask the question –  is this film offering a new perspective and does it have any chance of shaping people’s views of the man who would become the 45^th President of the United States?

The movie shares the same name as the long running NBC television series but instead of being the one dispensing advice and telling people they’re fired, it’s Donald Trump who is the “apprentice” as he tries to make a name for himself in the business world.  Iranian-Danish director Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider) picks up the story in the mid-1970s as Trump, played by Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The First Avenger), tries to emerge from his wealthy father’s shadow and build a reputation of his own.  His first is to buy a rundown hotel in Manhattan (The Commodore) and transform it into one of the world’s best.

It’s a decent-sized ensemble but the film is focused on Trump’s interactions with two key individuals.  The first was his future wife Ivana (Bakalova) who rejected his initial advances but was won over by his charm and power.  It was a rocky relationship.  The second was Roy Cohn (Strong), a ruthless lawyer who took Trump under his wing, shaped his deal-making views, and became a powerful weapon in his battles against government officials.  Cohn has become more famous in the afterlife given his depiction in a raft of productions including the 1991 Tony Award winning play Angels in America through to the 2023 television miniseries Fellow Travellers.

The Apprentice is a moderately interesting release that provides a curious snapshot of the corruption and dodgy behaviour which permeated New York City in the 1970s and 1980s.  Sebastian Stan is up to the task of playing Trump.  He doesn’t overplay the role and does a great job showing the evolution of Trump’s confidence (he’s quite meek in the early scenes).  However, I’d argue the most thought-provoking character in the movie is Roy Cohn (it’s as if he steals the movie from Trump) and it’s prompted me to do more reading about his accent to power.

Unlike some other biopics where the subjects (or their families) get involved to ensure it’s spun in a positive manner, The Apprentice isn’t authorised by the former President who stated that he would use the filmmakers following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.  Journalist Gabriel Sherman, who penned the screenplay, stands by the material and while it has been condensed and fictionalised, it is based on “really rigorous research.”

I’m not convinced it’ll do much to move the needle on Trump’s standing in the community (he’s already such a divisive individual) but if you’re looking to know more about his background, The Apprentice provides a succinct overview (without digging too deep).