The Apprentice 2024 - Review: A Razor-Sharp Satire of Greed and Ambition

The Apprentice

A Razor-Sharp Satire of Greed and Ambition

★★★★☆

A powerfully invigorating, thought-provoking ride through the formative years of a polarizing icon.

Lucky 13 Review

The Apprentice

Directed by Ali Abbasi • 2024

Release Date

October 11, 2024

Rotten Tomatoes

79%

Letterboxd Score

3.4/5

Running Time

2h 02m

Official Synopsis

A dark biographical drama tracing the early real estate career of Donald J. Trump in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s. The narrative deep-dives into his formative relationship with the ruthless, fiercely intelligent political fixer and defense attorney Roy Cohn. As Cohn mentors the young, ambitious businessman in his three unyielding rules for absolute victory—attack, deny everything, and never admit defeat—a Faustian bargain unfolds, altering the trajectory of an empire and shaping the future of a cultural titan.

Expanded Ensemble

• Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump
• Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn
• Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump
• Martin Donovan as Fred Trump Sr.
• Ben Sullivan as Russell Eldridge
• Charlie Carrick as Fred Trump Jr.

Expanded Architects

• Director: Ali Abbasi
• Screenplay: Gabriel Sherman
• Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Jacob Jarek, Ruth Treacy
• Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael
• Film Editors: Olivier Bugge Coutté, Olivia Neergaard-Holm
• Music Composers: Martin Dirkov, David Holmes, Brian Irvine

Official Promotional Trailer

Production Info & Specifications

Financial Budget	$16 Million (Estimated)
Global Box Office	$12.3 Million
Capture Format	Digital (Sony FX9 / 16mm Emulation) • 1.33:1 & 1.85:1 Variable Layout
Primary Locations	Toronto & Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (NYC Replicas)
Production Label	Briarcliff Entertainment • Scythia Films • Profile Pictures

"The assignment feels like it's supposed to ultimately be a cautionary tale of greed and ambition run amok and the film accomplishes that."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Production Brief

• Director: Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider)
• Starring: Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova
• Genre: Biopic / Dark Comedy / Drama
• Aesthetic: High-budget sheen meets gritty, urgent handheld vision

A Masterclass in Transformation

The film is anchored by powerhouse black comedy performances. Sebastian Stan manages a grounded, almost tragically sympathetic portrayal of Trump, while Jeremy Strong is formidable as the mentor who peels away the layers of a "hopelessly rotten" apple. While the film undeniably carries an agenda in its depiction of the 45th and 47th President, it stands primarily as a very amusing and invigorating piece of cinema that earned its place in the awards season conversation.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Cannes Premiere: The film received an 8-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
• Legal Hurdles: The production famously faced legal threats and "cease and desist" letters from the Trump campaign during its release cycle.
• Stan's Method: Sebastian Stan reportedly gained weight and studied hundreds of hours of 1970s and 80s footage to capture the specific cadence and mannerisms of the era.

✅ Pros

• Masterful acting from Stan and Strong that avoids SNL-style parody.
• Razor-sharp, painfully biting satirical script.
• Invigorating, high-energy direction from Ali Abbasi.

❌ Cons

• Maria Bakalova’s feisty Ivana Trump feels somewhat underused.
• The overtly polarizing agenda may alienate specific audiences.
• Disturbingly dark third act may be jarring for some.

The Full Analysis

The Apprentice is a gleefully one-sided and unflattering look at the formative business years of Donald Trump under the tutelage of the notorious Roy Cohn. The film features powerhouse black comedy performances from Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, while Maria Bakalova is charming and affable, though unfortunately underused, as a feisty Ivana Trump. Director Ali Abbasi paints a disturbing view of a dangerously ambitious, self-serving, and ruthless young Trump. While Cohn sharpens and shapes his protege's mindset, the film suggests the apple was already hopelessly rotten before Cohn even began peeling away the extraneous layers.

Abbasi attacks the material with a ferocity that suggests a significant bone to pick, resulting in a painfully biting and entertaining satire that remains razor-sharp throughout. This is not a silly caricature of Trump, such as one might find in a mediocre Saturday Night Live sketch. What makes the movie so powerful is its seemingly grounded, almost tragically sympathetic viewpoint. Of course, the debate in the years to come will be whether the movie is painting a negative picture or simply revealing one that already exists.

Ultimately, the assignment feels like it is intended to be a cautionary tale of greed and ambition run amok, and the film successfully accomplishes that goal. This is especially evident in the comedic elements and the disturbingly dark third act. Shot with both a high-budget studio sheen and a creative, urgent, independent vision, the film deservedly earned awards season consideration, including acting nominations for Stan and Strong. However, the film undeniably feels like it has an agenda; those who lean right will likely hate it, while those on the left will likely love it.

I do not believe a portrait of Donald Trump can ever be neutral or balanced, as the man is inherently polarizing regardless of how he is presented. He has led a divisive and extreme life. The Apprentice is a very amusing, entertaining, and powerfully invigorating ride. The fact that it happens to be about the formative years of the 45th and 47th President should not be held against it. A good movie is a good movie, and this is a really good one.

🏆 Final Verdict

A good movie is a good movie, and The Apprentice is a really good one. It is a powerful, amuse-bouche of historical friction that proves no portrait of a polarizing figure can truly be neutral—but it can certainly be brilliant.

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