The Apprentice (2024 film) explained

The Apprentice
Director:Ali Abbasi
Producer:Daniel Bekerman
Jacob Jarek
Julianne Forde
Ruth Treacy
Louis Tisné
Starring:
Cinematography:Kasper Tuxen
Editing:Olivier Bugge Coutté
Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Production Companies:
Distributor:Mongrel Media (Canada)[1]
Nordisk Film (Denmark)[2]
StudioCanal (Ireland)[3]
Runtime:120 minutes
Country:Canada
Denmark
Ireland
United States[4]
Language:English
Budget:$16 million[5]

The Apprentice is a 2024 biographical historical drama film directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman. Starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, the film examines Trump's career as a real estate businessman in New York in the 1970s and 80s. The film also stars Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova, and Martin Donovan.

The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024.

Premise

Set during the early years of Trump's business career, the film focuses on the relationship of Trump and Roy Cohn, a New York City prosecutor known for working with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare. The "mentor-protégé narrative ... documents the start of an American dynasty" and discusses Trump's use of "power, corruption and deception." Trump's "decency [is] eroded as he learns the dark arts of dealmaking and tastes power".[6]

Production

The film was first announced in May 2018, with Gabriel Sherman slated to write the screenplay.[7] In October 2023, Ali Abbasi was confirmed to be joining the film as director and, as initially reported, co-writer.[8] However, it was later confirmed that Sherman would be the film's sole writer. The film began principal photography in November 2023, where Stan, Strong, and Bakalova were announced as the lead roles.[9] [10] Filming wrapped on January 28, 2024. In February 2024, it was announced that Martin Donovan had joined the cast portraying Fred Trump.[11]

Release

The film was submitted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, held from May 14 to 25, 2024.[12] It was included in competition for the Palme d'Or in April 2024, alongside 18 other films.[13] The Apprentice premiered on May 20, 2024, at the festival.[14] Prior to this, StudioCanal acquired UK and Irish distribution rights to the film.[15] In June 2024, after much difficulty in finding a domestic distributor over concerns regarding its content as well as an attempt by Trump's legal team to block its release, Tom Ortenberg's Briarcliff Entertainment was reported to be close to acquiring U.S. distribution rights for a fall 2024 release, although a deal could not immediately be confirmed.[16]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 76% of reviews from 46 critics have been positive, with an average rating of 6.9 out of 10. The website's consensus reads: "Instead of cross-examining its subject, The Apprentice gives Sebastian Stan the chance to shine in a simplistic yet entertaining foray into the world of a young Trump."[17] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100 based on 20 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]

David Rooney in The Hollywood Reporter praised Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong's performances in the film with Stan "going beyond impersonation to capture the essence of the man".[19] Beyond the portrayal of Trump and Cohn, Rooney writes that the film examines the rise of 'winners' and 'losers' thinking in American life from the cynicism of the Nixon years to the rise of corporate greed during the Reagan presidency in the 1980s.[19]

Legal issues

Steven Cheung, the communications director of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, threatened legal action against the film due to its depiction of a rape scene involving Ivana and Donald Trump[21] [22] [23] that was based on divorce records. In a deposition relating to their divorce, Ivana accused Donald of rape and of pulling out her hair by the handful when his plastic surgery to alter his hairline failed.[24] After the Trump campaign called the film "garbage" and "pure fiction" in a lengthy statement, director Abbasi offered to screen the film for Trump.[25] He also said that realistic movies need to be produced about the threat of fascism.[26]

Billionaire Dan Snyder, formerly the owner of the Washington Commanders NFL team, donated money to the production of The Apprentice with the impression that the film would be a positive portrayal of Trump. Snyder is a close friend of Trump who donated $1.1 million to his inaugural committee and Trump Victory Committee in 2016 and $100,000 to his 2020 presidential campaign. After seeing a cut of the film in February 2024, Snyder was said to be furious, and lawyers for the Kinematics production company sought to fight the release of the film.[27]

In May 2024, Trump's legal team sent a cease & desist letter to the filmmakers.[28]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Apprentice. Mongrel Media. May 4, 2024.
  2. Web site: Donald Trump Movie 'The Apprentice' Sells Around The World As Intrigue Remains Over U.S. Release. Deadline. June 4, 2024.
  3. Web site: Donald Trump Movie 'The Apprentice' Shocks Cannes, Receives Nearly Eight-Minute Standing Ovation. 2024-05-21. Patrick . Brzeski . Scott . Roxborough . . May 20, 2024.
  4. News: Katz . David . December 13, 2023 . Ali Abbasi plots The Apprentice with Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump . Cineuropa . December 14, 2023 . December 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231214133624/https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/453654 . live.
  5. Web site: Inside the battle to release controversial Trump movie ‘The Apprentice’. Jada. Yuan. The Washington Post. June 25, 2024. June 26, 2024. June 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004702/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2024/06/25/donald-trump-movie-the-apprentice-release/. live.
  6. News: McIntosh . Steven . Donald Trump biopic causes a stir in Cannes . . May 21, 2024 . May 22, 2024.
  7. News: Gabriel Sherman to Write 'The Apprentice' Movie About Young Donald Trump . . May 2, 2018 . November 29, 2023 . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130011549/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/gabriel-sherman-the-apprentice-movie-donald-trump-1202795513/ . live.
  8. News: Ali Abbasi to Direct and Co-Write 'The Apprentice' under Fabula Pictures . Nilsen Report . October 30, 2023 . November 29, 2023 . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130011550/https://nilsenreport.ca/ali-abbasi-to-direct-and-co-write-the-apprentice-under-fabula-pictures/ . live.
  9. News: Sebastian Stan to Portray Young Donald Trump in Ensemble Film 'The Apprentice' . . November 29, 2023 . November 29, 2023 . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130000020/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sebastian-stan-portray-donald-trump-film-the-apprentice-1235699146/ . live.
  10. News: 'The Apprentice': Jeremy Strong And Maria Bakalova Join Sebastian Stan In Donald Trump Pic . Matt . Grobar . . November 29, 2023 . November 29, 2023 . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129233512/https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-apprentice-movie-sebastian-stan-donald-trump-1235643089/ . live.
  11. News: Martin Donovan Joins 'The Apprentice' Movie As Fred Trump Sr. . Matt . Grobar . . February 9, 2024 . February 13, 2024 . February 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211111350/https://deadline.com/2024/02/the-apprentice-movie-casts-martin-donovan-fred-trump-sr-1235820423/ . live.
  12. News: Cannes 2024: Jacques Audiard's Zoe Saldana-Selena Gomez Movie, Andrea Arnold's Barry Keoghan Film, Cronenberg and More in the Mix . Elsa . Keslassy . . March 4, 2024 . March 6, 2024 .
  13. News: Cannes Film Festival Competition Includes Coppola, Audiard, Cronenberg, Arnold, Lanthimos, Sorrentino & Abbasi's Trump Movie — Full List . . April 11, 2024 . April 11, 2024 .
  14. Web site: The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes. May 8, 2024. Festival de Cannes. May 8, 2024.
  15. Web site: Studiocanal Takes UK & Ireland For Ali Abbasi's Cannes Title 'The Apprentice'. Deadline Hollywood. Melanie. Goodfellow. May 15, 2024. May 16, 2024.
  16. Web site: Hot-Button Film 'The Apprentice' Moving Toward U.S. Deal With Briarcliff To Release Cannes Sensation On Donald Trump & Roy Cohn – The Dish. Deadline Hollywood. Mike Jr. Fleming. 25 June 2024. 26 June 2024.
  17. The Apprentice. m. the_apprentice. August 7, 2024.
  18. the-apprentice. movie. The Apprentice. May 24, 2024.
  19. Web site: Rooney . David . May 20, 2024 . 'The Apprentice' Review: Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong Are Superb in Chilling Account of the Unholy Alliance That Birthed Donald Trump . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US . May 21, 2024.
  20. Web site: Goodfellow . Melanie . April 22, 2024 . Oliver Stone, Lou Ye, Michel Hazanavicius Films & 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' Among New Titles Added To Cannes 2024 Official Selection . Deadline . en-US . May 9, 2024.
  21. Web site: Patten . Dominic . May 20, 2024 . Trump Campaign Vows To Sue 'The Apprentice' Filmmakers Over Scene Of Ivana Trump Rape By Then-Real Estate Mogul . Deadline . May 20, 2024.
  22. Web site: Stephan . Katcy . May 20, 2024 . Trump Campaign Threatens Legal Action Over Sebastian Stan's 'The Apprentice' Movie: 'This Garbage Is Pure Fiction' . Variety . May 20, 2024.
  23. Web site: Siegel . Tatiana . May 20, 2024 . Donald Trump Movie 'The Apprentice' Ignites Controversy in Cannes Over Rape Scene . Variety . May 20, 2024.
  24. News: Ross. Barbara. Brown. Stephen Rex. September 17, 2016. Court docs reveal Donald Trump's 'cruel' treatment of Ivana . NY Daily News. https://web.archive.org/web/20160917194525/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/court-docs-reveal-donald-trump-cruel-treatment-ivana-article-1.2796179 . September 17, 2016 . October 15, 2017.
  25. Web site: Shafer . Ellise . Donnelly . Matt . May 21, 2024 . 'The Apprentice' Director Offers to Screen Movie for Donald Trump After Campaign Threatens Lawsuit: 'I Don't Necessarily Think It's a Movie He Would Dislike' . Variety . May 21, 2024.
  26. Coyle, Jake, Trump campaign calls The Apprentice film ‘blatantly false,’ director offers to screen it for him, The Associated Press, May 21, 2024
  27. Web site: Siegel . Tatiana . May 20, 2024 . Inside the Legal Battle to Recut Trump Movie 'The Apprentice': Why Billionaire Investor Dan Snyder Is Furious With Ex-President's Portrayal (EXCLUSIVE) . Variety . May 21, 2024.
  28. Web site: 2024-05-24 . Trump hits 'The Apprentice' with cease-and-desist, seeks to block release . 2024-05-25 . Yahoo Entertainment . en-US.

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