The Apprentice (2024) Review: A Monster of Capitalism Born in the 70s
In today’s ever-changing political and media landscape, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the colossal impact of Donald Trump. But what shaped this divisive figure? Director Ali Abbasi’s film The Apprentice offers an intriguing yet controversial take on Trump’s early years, draping his rise in the thematic garb of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Much like Dr. Frankenstein in Shelley’s novel, Trump’s “creator” in this film is none other than the notorious lawyer Roy Cohn, with some help from the ruthless influence of his father, Fred Trump.
A Tale of Two Eras: Trump’s Evolution
Abbasi structures The Apprentice into two distinct halves: the first hour delves into a young, relatively naive Trump (portrayed by Sebastian Stan) learning the “art of the deal” under the manipulative guidance of Roy Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong). The second half skips forward a decade, showcasing a more polished, yet corrupt version of Trump, fully embodying the persona he’s maintained for most of his life.
However, while the first half is filled with intrigue and strong character development, the second hour falters. It lacks a clear point of view and fails to offer much new insight into the man Trump would become. Instead, it leans heavily on already familiar traits, resulting in a shallow portrayal. The script, penned by Gabriel Sherman, ends up feeling like a series of references to well-known Trump behaviours, leaving the audience wanting more.
Roy Cohn: The Mentor Who Molded Trump
One of the film’s most fascinating aspects is its portrayal of Roy Cohn, the man who, in real life, was one of Trump’s key mentors. Strong’s performance as Cohn is powerful, and he perfectly captures the shark-like quality that made Cohn such a formidable figure in New York’s legal and political circles. Cohn’s role in Trump’s life is boiled down to three simple but chilling lessons that would stick with the future president:
- Attack, attack, attack.
- Admit nothing, deny everything.
- Claim victory, and never admit defeat.
These principles aren’t just business tactics they become the foundation of Trump’s entire approach to life, and watching this dynamic unfold in the film is captivating. Cohn is painted as the twisted father figure Trump needed after his own distant and demanding father, Fred Trump, left emotional scars.
The Rise of Trump: From Deals to Decay
The film’s first half succeeds in humanizing the young Trump, giving him room to develop on screen. We see him schmoozing Cohn in a bathroom, learning how to manipulate political and business systems to his advantage. Stan’s portrayal of Trump’s growing confidence is a key element, as we witness a man becoming more ruthless and morally ambiguous with each passing scene.
However, when the film jumps ahead to the mid-1980s, it feels disjointed. Suddenly, Trump is no longer the apprentice he’s a full-fledged master of his own fate. The problem here is that The Apprentice leaves the audience to fill in too many blanks. How did Trump evolve from a hungry young real estate mogul to the monstrous figure we see in the second half? By skipping over significant development, the film loses its emotional depth and much of its potential impact.
The Trump-Cohn Dynamic: Mentor Turned Monster
By the time the film reaches its second half, the mentor-mentee relationship between Trump and Cohn has deteriorated. As Cohn faces his mortality battling AIDS in an era when the disease was heavily stigmatized he realizes that his apprentice has no room left in his life for him. Trump, now focused solely on his own rise to power, discards Cohn without a second thought.
This shift in their relationship could have been a fascinating focal point for the film, but it’s barely touched upon, leaving much to be desired. Instead, The Apprentice offers a rushed conclusion that tries to make the audience feel sympathy for Cohn a morally dicey move considering Cohn’s notorious legacy.
Satire, Horror, or Comedy? The Film’s Identity Crisis
One of the major issues with The Apprentice is that it never fully commits to what kind of film it wants to be. Is it a satire of the American Dream? A horror movie about how that dream became a nightmare? Or is it a comedy about a buffoon who stumbled his way into success? The film touches on all these themes but never fully embraces any of them, leading to a disjointed viewing experience.
Abbasi’s attempt to blend satire with serious political commentary ultimately falls flat. The jokes feel too easy, the dialogue too obvious. For example, when Stan’s Trump punches the word “loser,” it’s hard not to think of Alec Baldwin’s Saturday Night Live impression. And while Baldwin’s parody was effective as late-night comedy, The Apprentice needs more substance to stand out in the crowded field of Trump-related content.
The Ivana Factor: A Glimpse into Trump’s Personal Life
One of the few bright spots in the film’s second half is Maria Bakalova’s portrayal of Ivana Trump, the future president’s first wife. Bakalova, best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Borat Subsequent Movie film, brings a surprising amount of depth to Ivana, refusing to play her as the stereotypical trophy wife often depicted in the media.
Unfortunately, Ivana’s role is too brief, and like many other interesting elements in The Apprentice, it’s not explored to its full potential. The film misses an opportunity to dive deeper into Trump’s personal relationships and how they influenced his rise to power.
A Missed Opportunity: The 70s to 80s Time Jump
The decision to jump from the early days of Trump’s career in the 1970s to his rise in the mid-1980s is one of the film’s most baffling choices. By skipping over such a significant chunk of Trump’s development, The Apprentice leaves too many questions unanswered. How did Trump’s relationship with his father evolve during this time? What other key events shaped him into the man we see in the second half of the film?
Instead, the movie presents Trump’s rise as almost inevitable a product of greed, capitalism, and a ruthless drive to win at all costs. While that may be true, it feels like an oversimplification of a complex figure. There’s no room for nuance, and the film ends up feeling like a missed opportunity to truly explore Trump’s psyche.
Wrapping Up: A Hollow Conclusion
The Apprentice ends with a scene that feels designed to brush away any dissatisfaction with the film’s superficiality. The message seems to be that there’s no way to explain how we got here Trump is simply a product of his environment, a young real estate magnate who found a father figure in Roy Cohn, and that relationship changed the world forever.
But is that really enough? For a figure as divisive and complex as Donald Trump, a more in-depth exploration is needed. The Apprentice tries to do too much in its two-hour runtime and ends up not saying enough.
Final Thoughts: Is The Apprentice Worth Watching?
While The Apprentice has its moments thanks largely to the strong performances of Stan and Strong it ultimately falls short of its potential. The film lacks the depth needed to fully explore its subject, and its attempt to blend satire with serious commentary doesn’t quite land.
In the end, The Apprentice feels like a film that could have worked better as a book, where more time could be spent filling in the gaps between Trump’s early years and his rise to power in the 1980s. As it stands, the film offers a shallow look at one of the most controversial figures in modern history leaving us with more questions than answers.
