Film Review: The Apprentice
Telling the story of Donald Trump’s relationship with lawyer Roy Cohn, “The Apprentice” features a strong '70s and '80s aesthetic. Naturally, this film is politically controversial, as Trump is just a month away from potentially being elected U.S. president for a second time.
There is little in this film that is surprising or novel. Most people familiar with Trump won’t gain new insights.
However, the story of Trump’s mentor, Roy Cohn, is quite compelling. The most notable part comes early on when Cohn lays out his three rules for success in life. By the end of the film, Trump has fully embraced these rules, despite the changes in his relationship with Cohn.
There are a couple of scenes that are hard to watch. One depicts Trump’s behavior, while another has elements of body horror as Trump struggles with his weight and baldness.
In many ways, this film will be interpreted differently depending on the viewer’s perspective. Much of Trump’s business career might not seem controversial to those with a laissez-faire attitude toward the economy. But those who lean left economically will likely view Trump as a fortunate grifter, profiting from government leeway.
For my part, when it comes to Trump’s business career, I’m somewhere in the middle. He clearly benefited from tax breaks, but he was also investing heavily in New York City when others were hesitant.
It’s often said that if Trump had sold his father’s company in the 1970s and simply invested the proceeds in an S&P 500 index fund, he’d be far wealthier today. But what would society look like if everyone did that? Real estate is a major part of New York City's economy, and Trump deserves some credit for being involved rather than taking a hands-off approach.
I assume the film is well-sourced, if only because the filmmakers would expect a lawsuit. However, this hinders the film's narrative. Unsatisfying glimpses into Trump's brother and father are presented, likely due to a lack of available information. More details on these relationships would have given greater insight into Trump himself.
The way the film’s visuals evolve over the decades, along with the period-specific music choices, is excellent. Sebastian Stan gives a strong performance, avoiding a cheap caricature.
Ultimately, though, Roy Cohn is more interesting and enigmatic than Trump. I left the cinema wishing I had seen a film focused on Cohn.