What makes film so special is the nature of its controversy. A medium of provocation, and oh does The Apprentice provoke. Putting political agendas aside, this movie gives valuable perspective into the powers, relationships, and situations that shaped the Donald Trump who has forged a lasting impression on all of our minds. Written by journalist Gabriel Sherman, and directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abissi, The Apprentice depicts a figure who has so long walked the tightrope between pride and terror for many of the audience in attendance.
The movie opens by establishing the grunginess of New York City in the 1970s, where we find Trump (Sebastian Stan) as this young, bright-eyed salesman, eager to make his mark on the real estate landscape. Donald's father, Fred Trump (Martin Donovan), is portrayed as this baron of a figure, dismissive of his son’s aspirations and embroiled in a lawsuit over racial profiling in his rental properties.
Donald’s ambition to escape his father's shadow and develop a luxury high-rise near Central Station sets the stage for his encounter with Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). Cohn, a ruthless and amoral attorney known for his role in the Army-McCarthy hearings and his involvement in the Rosenberg case, becomes a mentor to Trump. Under his guidance, Trump navigates the legal challenges posed by the government's accusations of violating the Fair Housing Act. Despite Fred Trump's initial distrust of Cohn, Donald recognizes the strategic advantage Cohn’s connections and unscrupulous tactics offer. Cohn secures a dismissal of the lawsuit through blackmail and manipulation, clearing the way for Donald's first major development project, the Commodore Hotel.
