The Apprentice Review: Exposes Donald Trump’s Success Story As A Loser

RATING - ⭐ ⭐ ✨ 2.5/5*

The Apprentice Review Movie Talkies:

The Apprentice is a biographical drama based on the early days of Donald Trump—long before his political career began. It takes you inside his life, his affairs, his shady business dealings, betrayals, and so-called “successes.” But despite its explosive subject matter, the film rarely makes for a gripping watch. Trump’s rise as a real estate businessman wasn’t exactly inspiring, and the success he achieved—or rather snatched—always feels questionable. Unfortunately, those same uninspiring realities make you lose interest in both the film and its storytelling.

The Apprentice Story:

The story begins in 1973, when a young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) meets the infamous lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) at a club. The two quickly form a bond, as Cohn takes Trump under his wing, eager to transform him into a powerful businessman and a public celebrity. Cohn teaches Trump his three key lessons for life: “Attack, attack, attack,” “Never admit anything,” and “Always claim victory.” With Cohn’s manipulative guidance, Trump begins breaking into profitable deals and building his empire.

Soon, we see glimpses of Trump’s personal life—his romance with Czech model Ivana (Maria Bakalova), whom he later marries. However, as his fame grows, his moral compass vanishes. He drifts away from both his mentor and his wife, chasing platonic affairs and self-obsession. The film then sums up Trump’s so-called success story while hinting at his eventual political ambitions, closing with murmurs of him running for election.

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Gabriel Sherman’s writing is engaging in parts but too intense and one-toned to sustain healthy interest. It focuses heavily on business strategies, manipulation, and egotism—elements that, while fitting Trump’s personality, make the film emotionally exhausting. A touch of romance or dark humor could have balanced the narrative, but those aspects remain underexplored. The most controversial moment comes during the marital rape scene between Trump and Ivana. It’s brutally executed but feels unnecessary and misplaced. Why would a man, moments after disowning his wife, force himself on her—and why would she express guilt or attraction just before that? The scene feels forcefully inserted to create shock value, as the rest of the film lacks any real sense of brutality. A similar tactic is used in Cohn and Trump’s confrontations, which become increasingly predictable toward the end.

The Apprentice Cast:

Sebastian Stan delivers one of his most memorable performances. It’s not easy to forget him as Bucky Barnes from Avengers, but this role feels different. He nails Trump’s smirk, speech patterns, and inflated confidence with uncanny precision, portraying him as both charismatic and repulsive. Jeremy Strong, on the other hand, is phenomenal as Roy Cohn. He fully disappears into the character—cold, clever, and calculating. His chemistry with Stan forms the film’s emotional and psychological core. Maria Bakalova brings grace and authenticity to Ivana Trump, her charm and vulnerability balancing out the chaos around her. Martin Donovan also leaves a mark, while supporting performances by Catherine McNally, Charlie Carrick, Ben Sullivan, and Mark Rendall are consistently good.

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On the technical side, The Apprentice is competent but not exceptional. The cinematography doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking, yet it serves its purpose by capturing the 1970s-80s aesthetic with precision. The background score is subtle but effective, complementing the serious tone of the film. Editing maintains a decent pace, although the final act drags slightly and could have been trimmed. Costumes, makeup, and production design convincingly recreate Trump’s flashy world of excess and image obsession.

The Apprentice Movie Review:

Director Ali Abbasi handles the subject matter with confidence, refusing to glorify Trump or hide his moral decay. The film doesn’t compromise in exposing the darker sides of his ambition and corruption. Given this unapologetic approach, it’s not surprising that Trump reportedly disliked the film and labeled it “propaganda” during his campaign. In the end, The Apprentice is a watchable yet uneven biopic. It exposes Trump’s secrets and contradictions effectively but struggles to maintain engagement throughout. What truly keeps the film alive are the outstanding performances—especially from Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Beyond that, it’s a decent but subpar drama that reveals a lot, entertains a little, and ultimately confirms what many already know: Trump’s biggest success story might just be his ability to convince the world he’s one.

The film is streaming on Lionsgate now.

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