The Apprentice is the villain origin for one of the most notorious personalities in the world that thanks to a truly transformative performance by Sebastian Stan and a brilliant supporting turn from Jeremy Strong, delivers the unsettling biopic event of the year that audiences won’t stop talking about.

 

There is a reason why Donald Trump tried to block The Apprentice from being released in the United States, because surprise surprise, it paints him in a pretty unfavourable light. Though, from everything that has been released publicly about the former American President, there is nothing all that shocking to be revealed in Ali Abbasi’s latest film; it's rather more of the same about Mr. Trump. Chronicling his life from when he first met Roy Cohn up to his commissioning of his book The Art of the Deal, there is more than enough to be entertained by The Apprentice thanks to the truly spectacular performances of Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, both of whom make great arguments for an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively.

 

Without question, the film succeeds thanks to Stan’s tremendous performance as Donald Trump. Using great makeup and prosthetic work to turn the ever handsome Stan in the despicable Trump, Stan adds another impressive performance to his resume this year after Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man. Reveling in the greed, indifference and power hungry nature of Trump, Stan never for a second fails to capture the controversial figure. Down to his mannerisms and facial expressions, it never feels like you are watching a bad impersonation of Trump but rather a perfect portrayal. From a character perspective, Stan takes Trump from an ambitious young man looking to make a name for himself to a monstrous, cold and brutal business man not afraid to betray anybody to further his career, and it is a transformation that will make your skin crawl and insides turn at how deplorable of an individual Donald Trump is. While the film may be too controversial for Stan to garner awards consideration for his more than worthy performance given the polarizing nature of Donald Trump, Stan has once again proven himself as one of the most exciting actors working who is not afraid to take on daring roles.

 

From the second Strong appears on screen as Roy Cohn, you are immediately reminded of how much you miss seeing Strong every week on HBO’s Succession. Strong never minces the brutality of Cohn as he mentors Trump and teaches him his three rules to success, oozing a menacing presence that turns to one of heartbreak as he is eventually cast aside by his former protege who has eclipsed him. It’s an outstanding supporting performance that helps give insight into how Trump became the tyrant he is today, and another example of how Strong excels with playing morally dubious characters. Maria Bakalova is a great casting decision for Ivana Trump, even if her role is not as prominent as viewers may hope for, but she embodies the model turned wife of one of the most powerful men in New York. Watching her explain the interior design of Trump Tower is just priceless!