The highly-anticipated movie ‘The Apprentice,’ which chronicles Donald Trump’s rise as a real-estate developer, made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Sebastian Stan plays Trump in the film, focusing on his younger years and his relationship with his lawyer Roy Cohn. The movie is described as a “devilish origin story” and delves into the underbelly of the American empire as Trump ascends to power through a deal with Cohn.
Critics like Pete Hammond of Deadline praised the film for being a smart, sharp, and surprising take on Trump’s origins. The movie is not a hit job on Trump, portrayed as somewhat awkward but determined to succeed, seeking approval and driven to achieve success. Despite not having a U.S. distributor yet, the film is generating buzz and interest, especially with its unique perspective on Trump’s early years before becoming the divisive figure he is today.
‘The Apprentice’ also stars Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Martin Donovan as Fred Trump Sr. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised the performances of Stan and Strong, noting that viewers’ perceptions of the film will depend on their political leanings. Owen Gleiberman of Variety also commended Stan’s portrayal of Trump, calling it impressive, but questioned the film’s ability to truly unravel the mystery of the young Trump before his presidency.
The film’s director, Ali Abbasi, and writer, Gabriel Sherman, offer a different take on Trump’s story, focusing on his rise to power and the influence of figures like Roy Cohn. The movie is in competition at Cannes and is garnering attention for its portrayal of Trump’s formative years and the factors that shaped his persona. The buzz around the film is heightened by its portrayal of Trump as a complex character striving for success in a cutthroat world.
As ‘The Apprentice’ seeks a U.S. distributor, it joins other high-profile films like Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ at Cannes looking for buyers. The festival has become a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and attract interest from distributors. With its insightful take on Trump’s early years and its portrayal of the man behind the MAGA rallies, ‘The Apprentice’ has become a hot topic of discussion among critics and audiences eager to see a different perspective on the controversial figure.
