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The Apprentice (2024 film)

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The Apprentice
Poster
Directed byAli Abbasi
Written byGabriel Sherman
Produced byDaniel Bekerman
Jacob Jarek
Julianne Forde
Tony Grier
Ruth Treacy
Louis Tisné
Starring
CinematographyKasper Tuxen
Edited byOlivier Bugge Coutté
Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 20, 2024 (2024-05-20) (Cannes)
  • October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11) (United States)
Running time
120 minutes
CountriesCanada
Denmark
Ireland
United States[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$16 million[2]

The Apprentice is a 2024 biographical drama film directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman. Starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, the film examines Trump's career as a real estate businessman in New York in the 1970s and 1980s. The film also stars Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova, and Martin Donovan.

The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024, and is scheduled for an October 11 release in the United States.[3]

Premise

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Set during the early years of Trump's business career, the film focuses on the relationship of Trump and Roy Cohn, a New York City prosecutor known for working with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare.[4]

Cast

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Production

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The film was first announced in May 2018, with Gabriel Sherman slated to write the screenplay.[5] In October 2023, Ali Abbasi was confirmed to be joining the film as director and, as initially reported, co-writer.[6] However, it was later confirmed that Sherman would be the film's sole writer. The film began principal photography in November 2023, where Stan, Strong, and Bakalova were announced as the lead roles.[4][7] Filming wrapped on January 28, 2024. In February 2024, it was announced that Martin Donovan had joined the cast portraying Fred Trump.[8]

Release

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The film was submitted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, held from May 14 to 25, 2024.[9] It was included in competition for the Palme d'Or in April 2024, alongside 18 other films.[10] The Apprentice premiered on May 20, 2024, at the festival.[11] Prior to this, StudioCanal acquired UK and Irish distribution rights to the film.[12] It also screened at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2024.[13] In June 2024, after much difficulty in finding a domestic distributor over concerns regarding its content as well as an attempt by Trump's legal team to block its release, Tom Ortenberg's Briarcliff Entertainment was reported to be close to acquiring U.S. distribution rights for a fall 2024 release, although a deal could not immediately be confirmed; the deal was confirmed in August 2024, with the film scheduled for a theatrical release on October 11, 2024.[14][15] The first trailer for the film was released on September 10, 2024, coinciding with the second presidential debate between Trump and Kamala Harris.[16]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 75% of reviews from 53 critics have been positive, with an average rating of 6.9 out of 10. The website's consensus reads: "Instead of cross-examining its subject, The Apprentice gives Sebastian Stan the chance to shine in a simplistic yet entertaining foray into the world of a young Trump."[17] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100 based on 23 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]

David Rooney in The Hollywood Reporter praised Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong's performances in the film with Stan "going beyond impersonation to capture the essence of the man".[19] Beyond the portrayal of Trump and Cohn, Rooney writes that the film examines the rise of 'winners' and 'losers' thinking in American life from the cynicism of the Nixon years to the rise of corporate greed during the Reagan presidency in the 1980s.[19]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival May 25, 2024 Palme d'Or Ali Abbasi Nominated [20]
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Billionaire Dan Snyder, formerly the owner of the Washington Commanders NFL team, donated money to the production of The Apprentice with the impression that the film would be a positive portrayal of Trump. Snyder is a close friend of Trump who donated $1.1 million to his inaugural committee and Trump Victory Committee in 2016 and $100,000 to his 2020 presidential campaign. After seeing a cut of the film in February 2024, Snyder was said to be furious, and lawyers for the Kinematics production company sought to oppose the release of the film.[21]

The film includes controversial scenes, including those that depict Trump violently raping his first wife, Ivana, abusing amphetamines in order to lose weight, and undergoing liposuction and plastic surgery to remove a bald spot.[22][23] The rape scene was based on divorce records. In a deposition relating to their divorce, Ivana accused Donald of rape and of pulling out her hair by the handful when his plastic surgery to alter his hairline failed.[24]

On May 20, 2024, Variety reported that Steven Cheung, the communications director of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, threatened legal action over the film.[22] On May 24, Variety reported that Trump's attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers, seeking to block "all marketing, distribution, and publication of the Movie."[25]

Subsequent to this, Abbasi offered to screen the film for Trump, believing that he might approve of its depiction of him.[26] He also said that realistic movies need to be produced about the threat of fascism.[27] The film's producers responded to the letter by issuing a statement saying, "The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide."[28]

References

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  1. ^ Katz, David (December 13, 2023). "Ali Abbasi plots The Apprentice with Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  2. ^ Yuan, Jada (June 25, 2024). "Inside the battle to release controversial Trump movie 'The Apprentice'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  3. ^ Ugwu, Reggie (August 30, 2024). "Trump Biopic 'The Apprentice' Gets U.S. Release Date". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b "Sebastian Stan to Portray Young Donald Trump in Ensemble Film 'The Apprentice'". The Hollywood Reporter. November 29, 2023. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "Gabriel Sherman to Write 'The Apprentice' Movie About Young Donald Trump". Variety. May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Ali Abbasi to Direct and Co-Write 'The Apprentice' under Fabula Pictures". Nilsen Report. October 30, 2023. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Grobar, Matt (November 29, 2023). "'The Apprentice': Jeremy Strong And Maria Bakalova Join Sebastian Stan In Donald Trump Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Grobar, Matt (February 9, 2024). "Martin Donovan Joins 'The Apprentice' Movie As Fred Trump Sr". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (March 4, 2024). "Cannes 2024: Jacques Audiard's Zoe Saldana-Selena Gomez Movie, Andrea Arnold's Barry Keoghan Film, Cronenberg and More in the Mix". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Cannes Film Festival Competition Includes Coppola, Audiard, Cronenberg, Arnold, Lanthimos, Sorrentino & Abbasi's Trump Movie — Full List". Deadline Hollywood. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 15, 2024). "Studiocanal Takes UK & Ireland For Ali Abbasi's Cannes Title 'The Apprentice'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (August 31, 2024). "Hot Button Donald Trump Pic 'The Apprentice' Makes Telluride Debut Tonight At 10 PM At Galaxy Theater". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr (June 25, 2024). "Hot-Button Film 'The Apprentice' Moving Toward U.S. Deal With Briarcliff To Release Cannes Sensation On Donald Trump & Roy Cohn – The Dish". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Feinberg, Scott (August 30, 2024). "Hot-Button Trump Flick 'The Apprentice' Acquired by Briarcliff for Pre-Election Release, Awards Campaign (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  16. ^ https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2024/09/10/apprentice-movie-trailer-watch-sebastian-stan-donald-trump/75164451007/
  17. ^ "The Apprentice". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "The Apprentice". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Rooney, David (May 20, 2024). "'The Apprentice' Review: Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong Are Superb in Chilling Account of the Unholy Alliance That Birthed Donald Trump". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (April 22, 2024). "Oliver Stone, Lou Ye, Michel Hazanavicius Films & 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' Among New Titles Added To Cannes 2024 Official Selection". Deadline. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  21. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (May 20, 2024). "Inside the Legal Battle to Recut Trump Movie 'The Apprentice': Why Billionaire Investor Dan Snyder Is Furious With Ex-President's Portrayal (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Stephan, Katcy (May 20, 2024). "Trump Campaign Threatens Legal Action Over Sebastian Stan's 'The Apprentice' Movie: 'This Garbage Is Pure Fiction'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (May 20, 2024). "Donald Trump Movie 'The Apprentice' Ignites Controversy in Cannes Over Rape Scene". Variety. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  24. ^ Ross, Barbara; Brown, Stephen Rex (September 17, 2016). "Court docs reveal Donald Trump's 'cruel' treatment of Ivana". Daily News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  25. ^ "Trump hits 'The Apprentice' with cease-and-desist, seeks to block release". The Hill. May 24, 2024. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  26. ^ Shafer, Ellise; Donnelly, Matt (May 21, 2024). "'The Apprentice' Director Offers to Screen Movie for Donald Trump After Campaign Threatens Lawsuit: 'I Don't Necessarily Think It's a Movie He Would Dislike'". Variety. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  27. ^ Coyle, Jake, Trump campaign calls The Apprentice film ‘blatantly false,’ director offers to screen it for him, The Associated Press, May 21, 2024
  28. ^ Lang, Brent; Stephan, Katcy (May 24, 2024). "As 'The Apprentice' Seeks Cannes Sale, Trump Team Sends Cease and Desist Letter to Block Film's Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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