One man symbolizes American ruthless ambition, ego, and ruthlessness more than any other. He was a real estate mogul, a TV star, and the President. And now, he’s getting a Hollywood biopic.
In 1970s New York, a young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) sharpens his knives in the NYC real estate world. One night, Trump meets ruthless NYC prosecutor Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) who teaches him the way to dominate whatever professional system he pleases.
The film traces Trump’s rise to real estate mogul, grandiose visions for Trump Tower, marriage to 1st wife Ivana (Maria Bakalova), and increasing ruthlessness as he grows into the iconic (for better or worse) figure that would one day dominate the free world.
In director Ali Abbasi’s signature frenetic style, the 1st trailer for The Apprentice might be the first portrayal of Donald Trump that truly captures all sides of the man. Most post-presidency depictions of Trump have either been caricatures, or focused on his elderly years after a lifetime of riches and success. Seeing a younger, hungrier Trump feels like a completely different animal.
This film feels away from the modern political world, reminding us that Trump himself is a wildly fascinating character study in success at ANY cost. Lead actors Stan and Strong don’t aim for strict copying, but fully evoke the spirit of their characters and ground the film. The director’s signature Big Short-esque style perfectly offsets this, putting Trump in a world of fast-paced chaos that he eventually learns to navigate effortlessly.
Looking up tapes of Trump in the 80s, its fascinating how reserved (and even humble) he seemed when he still had more to prove. The opening shot of the trailer sees Trump get flustered, which seems completely out-of-character in 2024. Watching that growth from hungry young gun to power-drunk titan on the big screen looks absolutely fascinating.
Directed by Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice will release theatrically on October 11, 2024. The film stars Sebastian Stan in the lead role as Donald Trump.
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