The Apprentice
The Apprentice

The Apprentice

2024Movie122 minEnglish

A young Donald Trump, eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn, the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

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Insights

IMDb6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes80%
Metacritic70/100
Google Users70%
Director: Ali AbbasiGenres: Biographical, Drama

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the early career of Donald Trump in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s, depicting his rise as a real estate developer with the guidance of his lawyer and personal attorney, Roy Cohn. It explores his business dealings, personal relationships, and the formation of his public persona.

Critical Reception

The film received positive reviews at the Cannes Film Festival, with particular praise for the performances of Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, and Ali Abbasi's direction. It was noted for its sharp satire and critical portrayal of its subject.

What Reviewers Say

  • Sebastian Stan delivers a captivating performance as a young Donald Trump.
  • The film offers a biting and often uncomfortable look at ambition and power.
  • Jeremy Strong is compelling as the morally ambiguous Roy Cohn.

Google audience: Audience reviews generally highlight the strong performances and the film's intriguing, albeit controversial, subject matter. Some viewers found the portrayal of Trump to be unsettling, while others appreciated the historical and satirical elements.

Awards & Accolades

Premiered in competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received significant attention.

Fun Fact

Director Ali Abbasi stated that the film is not intended as a documentary and takes creative liberties, aiming for a more allegorical interpretation of Trump's rise to power.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
Brent Marchant

Brent Marchant

In the interest of full disclosure, originally I had not intended to watch this film, a decision I’ll freely admit was governed by my politics, especially after reading several mistaken early reviews claiming that the picture presented a “s...
Chandler Danier

Chandler Danier

Donnie Baby!!! Cool film about rich people doing rich people shit. But wait! It's the president of the EEUU. Great performances. Nice period specific film effects. Not sure how accurate it is but I assume 100% if the greatest country in...
Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://talkingfilms.net/the-apprentice-review-sebastian-stan-and-jeremy-strong-shine-in-a-provocative-bold-donald-trump-biopic/ "The Apprentice will leave no one indifferent. By crafting a provocative, uncompr...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

I was really quite disappointed with this. It focusses on the rise of Donald Trump, and in that role Sebastian Stan proves quite effective at mimicking some of the famous mannerisms of the man himself. The facial expressions and the habit o...