Staff Reports
Donald Trump’s attorney team must have a rising sense of déjà vu as they contemplate their next steps regarding the indie film “The Apprentice.” This latest cinematic endeavor, starring Sebastian Stan—yes, the same fellow who donned the role of Captain America’s sidekick—is supposedly a retelling of Trump’s early years as a real estate mogul. However, early clips suggest it might be best for Trump’s camp to just let this one roll right past them without a legal hiccup.
The initial teaser, which has already taken social media by storm, hints that this isn’t merely an exploration of Trump’s life but rather a ham-fisted caricature. Critics would likely argue that Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Richard Nixon in Oliver Stone’s film has finally met its match—only this time, it’s not just an uninspired impression. One could describe this cinematic output more as a sitcom sketch than as any form of legitimate biopic.
Yall had me upset over not seeing #TheApprentice & THIS is what yall were clapping over?
THIS?!
Sebastian Stan isnt even doing the voice or mannerisms. Jeremy Strong sounds more like Donald Trump. I never knew Trump stole his entire flow from Roy Cohen. Word 4 word. Beat 4 beat pic.twitter.com/AcCzWTW82s
— Dana Abercrombie (@sagesurge) September 3, 2024
The prestigious Cannes Film Festival served as the film’s launchpad back in May. While it received the cheers of champagne enthusiasts, it notably failed to snag any awards, perhaps due to a glaring lack of artistic merit. Described as a “hatchet job” by various outlets, the film allegedly paints Trump as a self-absorbed character connected to shady dealings, with scenes depicting everything from personal scandals to questionable friendships. It attempts to portray a young Trump as nothing more than an ethically bankrupt caricature, which is consistent with mainstream media narratives that have pervaded discussions around him for years.
The filmmakers insisted it was not just a cheap smear campaign. Instead, they frame their work as a complex exploration of the rise of an American dynasty and the darker aspects of ambition. Viewers, however, might find their minds wandering as they struggle with Stan’s uninspiring impression of Trump, which seems more comedic than character-driven. In reality, they might be left wondering just how it is possible to get such a famous figure’s persona so painfully wrong.
The film’s first clip features the actor as a young Trump alongside his alleged mentor, Roy Cohn—a man defined in history as much for his controversial connections as for his legal prowess. This was hardly a surprise given that the filmmakers are keen to squeeze out every tidbit of salacious drama from history while tossing in unrelated scandals for good measure as if attempting to compile a greatest hits album of controversies surrounding the former president. Viewers might wish that all the effort behind the project had gone into something more substantive instead of this overblown spectacle.
In the end, the film’s reception has likely left many scratching their heads rather than applauding. The farcical nature of the first clip suggests that, if anything, this film might serve as cinema’s next big embarrassment rather than a serious examination of Trump’s life. With criticism flying faster than an overzealous cable news anchor’s rhetoric and viewers pining for the days when political biopics had at least a shred of entertainment value, it’s safe to say that “The Apprentice” may soon earn its spot in the viral bad movie hall of fame.
