The Apprentice

The Apprentice created the event at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This film is not a biopic. It relates the relationship between Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, a shrewd and ruthless lawyer, who was his mentor. The title “The Apprentice” refers to the title of the reality TV show broadcast on NBC, in which candidates competed to join the company of the famous billionaire businessman. But in this film, the apprentice is young Trump.

Gabriel Sherman, political journalist, wrote this scenario worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy. It traces with precision and efficiency the initiation of young Donald Trump into the unscrupulous methods of Roy Cohn in the 1970s, in particular a three-point rule that we will not reveal here. Roy Cohn was the legal advisor to Senator Joseph MacCarthy during the witch hunt. He was also the lawyer of the mafia. At the time, the young Trump did not shine either in business or in eloquence. He is despised by his father, a real estate developer. Thanks to this Faustian pact, the apprentice will succeed beyond the master. Together, these two lawless men will build a real estate empire in Manhattan, using blackmail and corruption.

The quality of this film lies in this non-Manichean scenario, brilliantly interpreted by a tandem of actors, who prepared for a long time. Two hours of makeup and hair were needed to transform Sebastian Stan into Donald Trump. The result is invisible. This actor is a true chameleon, as shown by his interpretation of drummer Tommy Lee, in Pam and Tommy, for which he was nominated for an Emmy award. Jeremy Strong is also incredible in his immersion in the skin of lawyer Roy Cohn, powerful, disturbing, a killer.

Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi (Border, Nights of Mashhad) was contacted by producer Amy Baer for this film. He made his first film in English, shot in Canada. It is inspired by Barry Lyndon, by Stanley Kubrick, the story of another ambitious man. Its production avoids the trap of a fixed historical reconstruction. The period of the 70s is filmed with a 16mm and that of the 80s on VHS. With a rhythmic and concise staging, Ali Abbasi also highlights the context which allowed the emergence of men such as Roy Cohn and Donald Trump, an American system where money and power count more than integrity and honesty.

The Apprentice is not only an excellent film, but also the essential film to understand Donald Trump.

The Apprentice
Directed by Ali Abbasi
Written by Gabriel Sherman
Produced by Daniel Bekerman, Jacob Jarek, Julianne Forde, Ruth Treacy, Louis Tisné
Starring  Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Martin Donovan, Maria Bakalova
Cinematography : Kasper Tuxen
Edited by Olivier Bugge Coutté, Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Music by Martin Dirkov
Production companies : Scythia Films, Profile Pictures, Tailored Films, Rich Spirit, AQuest Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology,; AC Films Inc
Distributed by Metropolitan FilmExport (France), Briarcliff Entertainment (United States)
Release dates : May 20, 2024 (Cannes), October 11, 2024 (United States)
Running time : 120 minutes

Seen on May, 20, 2024 at the Cannes Film Festival

Sabine's Mark:

The Apprentice is a meticulous exploration of Donald Trump's transformation under the tutelage of his infamous mentor, Roy Cohn. Set in the sordid New York landscape of the 1970s and 1980s, the film offers a deep dive into the dynamics of power, greed and the formation of an individual who would go on to become a central figure in American politics. The film, written by Gabriel Sherman, delves deep into this mentor-apprentice relationship, highlighting how Cohn's unethical worldview played a key role in shaping Trump's approach to business, life and, ultimately, politics.

Jeremy Strong's portrait of Roy Cohn is a true achievement in capturing the complex duality of a man who is both manipulative and, at times, disturbingly sympathetic. Known for his aggressive legal tactics and personal vendettas, Roy Cohn imparts to Donald Trump a set of rules that will define his public persona: “Attack, attack, attack; admit nothing, deny everything; claim victory no matter what”. Roy Cohn is not only a ruthless lawyer, but also a tragic figure whose teachings unwittingly gave birth to a monster. This portrait of Roy Cohn adds a layer of depth to what could have been a one-dimensional villain. His mentorship transforms Trump, not into a better version of himself, but into a more brazen, morally indifferent man devoid of any scruples or ethics.

Donald Trump, played by Sebastian Stan, is first and foremost an awkward, insecure heir desperate for the approval of his father, Fred Trump (played with icy cruelty by Martin Donovan). Sebastian Stan expertly captures the gradual hardening of Donald Trump's character as he absorbs Roy Cohn's cynical worldview. What makes Sebastian Stan's performance fascinating is his ability to trace Donald Trump's descent from a somewhat insecure businessman to the overconfident, insensitive figure who comes to dominate the media and, later, politics. Sebastian Stan isn't content with a simple caricature of Donald Trump; instead, he depicts a man shaped by his insecurities and external pressures, with Cohn being the catalyst that pushes him towards moral decay.

The film shines brightest in scenes where the relationship between Donald Trump and Roy Cohn takes center stage, particularly in moments that illustrate Donald Trump's complete absorption of Roy Cohn's principles. The power dynamic between them subtly evolves as Donald Trump's star rises and Roy Cohn's health declines, reflecting the way Donald Trump outmaneuvered his mentor, only to discard him when he became a liability. Strong's performance in these moments, particularly when Roy Cohn succumbs to AIDS and faces rejection from Donald Trump, adds a tragic layer to the narrative. It's a chilling reminder of how power can corrupt not just relationships, but the very essence of a person's humanity.

Ali Abbasi's direction, complemented by Kasper Tuxen's photography, vividly recreates the decadence and opulence of New York at the time. The use of grainy, documentary-style footage reinforces the sense of authenticity, while the transitions between the seedy interiors of Cohn's world and the garish excess of Donald Trump's empire visually symbolize the latter's moral shift. This is particularly effective in scenes such as Trump's liposuction and scalp reduction, which are as grotesque as they are metaphorical, underlining his obsession with appearance and control.

One of the most controversial aspects of the film is its depiction of Donald Trump's personal life, in particular his interactions with Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova. The film doesn't shy away from describing Donald Trump's treatment of her, including an alleged rape that Ivana Trump later recanted in real life. These moments, while deeply uncomfortable to watch, are crucial in illustrating how Trump's moral framework - or lack thereof - extends beyond the business world and into his personal relationships.

The strength of The Apprentice lies in its refusal to offer easy answers or redemption to its characters. Donald Trump, as portrayed in this film, is not a tragic figure but a reflection of the systemic moral decay championed by Roy Cohn. The film makes no attempt to humanize Donald Trump beyond the cold, calculating persona he has developed. Rather, it shows how he internalized Roy Cohn's lessons and used them to his advantage, eventually surpassing his mentor in terms of power and insensitivity. The critique of American capitalism, as embodied by Trump's rise, is biting, suggesting that characters like Donald Trump are not anomalies but inevitable products of a system that rewards greed and ruthless ambition.

However, The Apprentice is not without its faults. The second half of the film, which focuses on the growing distance between Donald Trump and Roy Cohn and his transformation into the figure we know today, seems less coherent than the first. As Donald Trump's character consolidates, the narrative becomes more fragmented, relying on a series of well-known public events and scandals without offering the same psychological depth that marks the early parts of the film. However, this can be seen as intentional, reflecting the increasing opacity of Trump's inner life, as he becomes increasingly detached from the humanity that once bound him, however loosely, to those around him.

The Apprentice is a fascinating, if sometimes uneven, exploration of the making of Donald Trump. Anchored by outstanding performances from Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan, it offers a fascinating insight into how power corrupts and how one man's ambition can shape not only his own destiny, but also the future of a nation. Abbasi's film is a stark reminder of the moral cost of success in a world where winning is the only thing that counts.

The Apprentice
Directed by Ali Abbasi
Written by Gabriel Sherman
Produced by Daniel Bekerman, Jacob Jarek, Julianne Forde, Ruth Treacy, Louis Tisné
Starring  Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Martin Donovan, Maria Bakalova
Cinematography : Kasper Tuxen
Edited by Olivier Bugge Coutté, Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Music by Martin Dirkov
Production companies : Scythia Films, Profile Pictures, Tailored Films, Rich Spirit, AQuest Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology,; AC Films Inc
Distributed by Metropolitan FilmExport (France), Briarcliff Entertainment (United States)
Release dates : May 20, 2024 (Cannes), October 11, 2024 (United States)
Running time : 120 minutes

Seen on October 9, 2024 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 16 seat A19

Mulder's Mark: