The Apprentice is now in theaters. Two solid performances from Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong aid in the watchability of this new film about the early business days of Donald Trump.
Synopsis: The story of how a young Donald Trump started his real-estate business in 1970s and ’80s New York with the helping hand of infamous lawyer Roy Cohn.
In this politically fueled climate that we live in it is hard to think of a film like this as bi-partisan. But in many ways it is. Set in the 70s and 80s we see a much different Trump than the one of late. If there is an overall moral of this film it is that bad company corrupts good morals.
The Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) we meet here is a quiet, respectful dreamer. A man who has lofty goals and just wants someone to believe in him and his vision. He longs to be one of the power players in NY, but is not quite sure how to break onto that scene. When the notorious lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) takes Trump under his wing, befriending and grooming him at the same time, it is the best and worst of luck for Trump. Cohn gives Trump the fuel and drive he needed, but at what cost to his soul.
This story is as much about Cohn as it is Trump, and if any horrible light is shone it is on Roy. Yes we see some dark sides of Donald in this as husband and father, but it is Cohn that is the mastermind behind all the shady dealings and illegal string pulling. We see the inner politics of NY as bribes and blackmail abound. Donald Trump will stop at nothing to get his glorious hotel built and Cohn will stop at nothing to win.
Many older Americans remember NY in the 70s and 80s. It is not the NY we know now. Walking the streets at that time was a death wish. Crime was everywhere. Trump Tower broke ground in one of the seediest areas of NY. No one was building anything. But Donald had a vision to see a thriving NY. Say what you will but you have to give him credit for that.
Fact and fiction lines are always blurred in any biopic story, and always debatable. The success of THE APPRENTICE is not the story- though it is intriguing for sure – as much as the performances. Stan gives us a wonderful young Donald Trump. From his mannerisms, speech pattern, and body image he delivers a Trump that is recognizable and organic instead of an SNL type parody.
The film is rated R for sexual content, some graphic nudity, language, sexual assault, and drug use. But hey, it is the world of NY politics. What did you expect? Certainly not for younger viewers. Anti Trump folks will flock to this hoping to see a slanderous tale. Those who were a fan of pre-political Trump will hope to be entertained by the Trump we saw as a reality TV host. Neither of that is here. What we get is a young business man doing whatever he can to succeed and trusting in the most corrupt individuals to get him there.
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