Hi, all. It's essential to us as a channel that we keep things civilized in our comment section, so we'd appreciate it if everyone could please be decent to each other in discussing this film. We're so proud of the thoughtful community we've built here. Thank you!
You say that but refer to DJT as "one of the worst people of the 21st Century." Thats not fostering a welcoming environment for movie fans who support him.
@@old77733 I mean a lot of the people who support him also think he's terrible. The evangelicals that make up most of his base liken him to King Cyrus from the bible, a ruler who was a non-Christian who was nevertheless a useful tool for God.
@@old77733 It's an objective fact though isn't it though? Not sure what to do about right wing snowflakes who need cozy fictions to continue functioning.
Alonzo is always so clear and strong on how women are exploited in movies or how we might be hurt by them and it's very thoughtful. Thanks for being a loud ally to women.
I have to admit that the thought of sitting for any amount of time watching Sebastian Stan playing Trump not only turns my stomach, but I think subconsciously led me to completely block the existence of this film in my mind. Until today, after watching a really good interview with Ali Abbasi on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman. Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn is what has sold me on this film and has really piqued my interest.... that and the fact the "Trump Team" has tried to get this filmed banned (automatic 10/10). I loved Al Pacino in Angels in America and as you both have stated many actors have played Roy Cohn (evil P.O.S that he was) and have been able to get the best performances out of playing such a vile but layered individual. His connection/ mentorship into molding the Trump that we see today, makes all the sense in the world and I'm here to see Jeremy demolish the role. Also, loving the choices in the roles Sebastian is taking, great point Christy! Great review Guys!
@@Yup71719 It sure does comrade 😉. Which also gives me the opportunity to drop a few more trusted news sources. The Associated Press is where I go to get my daily 411. The Majority Report with Sam Seder for the interviews, book recommendations and daily dunking of rightwing grifters and hacks, The American Prospect has some great articles, Al Jazeera English and The Guardian b/c I need an outside perspective on both foreign and domestic news..... uhhhh who else, Zeteo with Medhi Hasan, Drop Sight News Ryan Grim, Semafor News with Dave Weigel (former political writer at WAPO), The National, Haaretz... BUT the most important place I go to feed the noodle is Verso. Not really a "news" source but it's the largest independent publishing house in the English-speaking world, publishing one hundred books a year. Now that explains a lot more. 🙃
Saw this last night and was surprised how much it impressed me. Agree that Jeremy Strong is the MVP. I also love how Sebastian Stan plays Trump as relatively normal in the beginning and then gradually over time he picks up the mannerisms he's known for now, like he's trying on a character or workshopping a bit, and he's slowly solidifying this new persona. One of the best moments is when Stan gives him just a few seconds of actual human emotion (his voice even sounds like another person) before clamming up, not letting his wife even touch him, and clearly wanting this ~feeling~ never to happen to him again.
I've been waffling on The Apprentice because there's too much Trump in real life and I'm not sure I want to purposely spend a couple of hours with him. That said, it does sound interesting. Could have seen it today, but I saw Saturday Night instead and was glad I did. Very entertaining nostalgia trip for people of my generation (I was a senior in high school when SNL debuted).
I felt exactly the same way, and first chose to see Lee, which was way better than I thought it would be!! I'm glad though that I then decided to see The Apprentice after all which is mostly thoroughly enjoyable until I'd well and truly had enough by the end!!
Christy, I appreciate the balance you provide. Alonso opens without holding back on his feelings but as a journalist you are always objective. 😊 I love your channel guys. My go to critics!
Yeah I couldn't agree more, I was riveted for the first half but well before the end I'd totally had enough of Trump, though Jeremy Strong remains mesmerising every moment he's on screen!! I felt that ultimately the film pulled too many punches, almost glossing over the gargantuan debts never paid, business bankruptcies, questionable loans and tax manipulations. Interestingly, since the release, Ivana has spoken out against the SA, now claiming it never happened , though the producers took it directly from her court-recorded divorce testimony, so... !!🤷♀
Trump just did a podcast this week where he expressed his love for Braveheart and he said it was one of the best movies ever. I thought of how Gleeson fit into that statement. One of Trumps favorite movies had an actor who would play him later. Pretty cool.
Nobody that Loves Trump will feel differently after seeing this film. Same goes for us Trump haters. Which in itself is a win for the filmmakers/ The acting is so good that it’s worth seeing regardless
Just got back from a packed "The Apprentice" showing at AMC Century City and I'm with Alonzo, I REALLY dug this film, great direction by Abissi, both Strong & Stan were GREAT as Cohn & Rump - same with Borat 2's Maria Bakalova as Ivana - the film's stylized direction seeming almost like a found footage doc or Grindhouse film of '70s era NYC, then a sheen brandnew VHS casette tape quality (and 4:3 aspect ratio) as the story progresses into the mid '80s - it all works great to bring you into that era. Thematically we see the young hustling Rump, not quite yet the modern day P.T. Barnum he came to be in the mid '80s, vying so badly to be wanted, to be in the "cool kids" club, to get the respect he desired from his father Fred, and his surrogate father, the infamous lawyer & fixer...Roy Cohn. Their relationship born of Rump's fave transactional relationship style, the Quid Pro Quo, seen in these early days and even now. There are moments where the script, Sebestian Stan and director Abissi do try to pull viewer empathy for Rump in some teeny tiny attempts, but beyond the "show" of his "business" the Shell Game style of Rump's deals and his troubled relationships with his family, with his wife Ivana, with Cohn just cannot hide the dark, mean spirited, selfish snake he truly always was. Then & now. Look if you don't know the Trump Family history or his father Fred & Donald's scummy, racist, cheapskate slumlord style of running real estate in New York bouroughs (which his shady son-in-law Jared Kushner also replicated), his SEVERAL failed Trump Casino's and side hustles, this Rump & Cohn Origin Story via the several docs, tell all books, magazine articles over the years, this film gets right at the crux of what the massively Insecure, Daddy Issues, Abusing, Using, Sociopathic fake fraud that Rump has been for decades. You see EVERY seed of his "Monstro DonOld" penultimate form (shout out The Substance) before his current nationally & globally dangerous FINAL FORM of all his years of living his life via "Roy Cohn's 3 Rules" we non-MAGA cult sane Americans have been dealing with for nearly 10 years now. *pairing The Apprentice with the Netflix' docu series "Dirty Money" episode The Confidence Man, or Showtime's "The Comey Rule" with Brendan Gleeson (execellent as the elder Mafia style Rump) make Abissi's film "prequel" to the Rump we know now all the more chilling. *And if you really wanna get a terrifying glimpse of a possible present/future of the "Final Rump Form" on celluloid, Alex Garland's excellent recent April 2024 release "Civil War" is still a very possible reality should this Unfit, UnAmerica, Traitor, Con-man, Grifter, Rapist, Convicted Felon ever hold a seat of power like the Office of U.S. President again. *also sidenote, very proud to cast my Harris Walz & Blue Downballot vote in my nearby voter dropbox before going to see "The Apprentice", looking forward to continuing my Harris Campaign, VoteSaveAmerica, Field Team 6 Phonebanking this weekend to Swing States as we are in the stretch run towards November and TURNING THE PAGE on DonOld :)
I understand what this movie is and what it’s all about. And I am super left wing, somewhere between Barack Obama and Che Guevara, but I have less than zero interest in watching this. Not because I disagree, but because the less time I can engage with anything Trump related, the better.
While I get any sane person's dusgust with Trump and wanting to wash their hands of him, politics engages you and you have no choice on the matter. As such, it's better to understand your enemy than to remain deliberately ignorant.
@@KnarfStein You're making it sound like the only responsible thing for an anti-Trumper to do is to watch this movie. No, we do have a choice. I've watched Trump for around 10 years now. And I've read several of the books that have come out on him over the last several years. I am not IGNORANT about Trump if I choose not to watch this movie.
@@Rainbowxpride89 Obama is left-of-center, but on the moderate side of the leftist spectrum. And political pragmatism probably moves him closer to the center than he would otherwise be.
The only thing I liked about this movie was the cinematography, Jeremy Strong's performance and I'm glad Sebastian Stan didn't use a Trump voice to make it more realistic.
Since I unfortunately started paying attention to Donald Trump when he descended his “golden” escalator at the Trump Tower on June 16, 2015 to begin his first political campaign - almost ten years ago - nothing in this movie was new to me but as a biography it hit ALL the notes about him in the 1970s and 80s. This movie was well written (100% plausible dialog and situations), superbly acted and produced, and when it ended after two hours I felt dirty and in need of a hot shower.
Thank you for your thorough review. I’m glad I went to see this film today! Glad that the people who wanted it banned didn’t get their way. And I definitely think Ivana took a lot of what she saw and knew to her grave - under the golf course.
He's probably worse on the personal level, by all accounts of his character and relationships, but in terms of politics, the Republicans and the Democrats are both absolutely terrible.
I don't think it was so much "the movie the Trump campaign doesn't want you to see" as it was "the movie the Harris campaign desperately NEEDS you to see, please please, please." How'd that turn out for you guys? Maybe you need to really rev it up and make an even worse smear movie shitting on a candidate during an election cycle. Good luck next time?
Great review! Lots of thoughtful points. I thought the scene was hilarious with Trump trying to stop Don Jr. from crying. Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong were both great. Unfortunately, the real drama of the upcoming election is too much for most people to want to see more of Trump in the theater, a place they usually go to escape reality. If Trump sees it, he'll be outraged at the accuracy of it.
I didn't know what to expect when I saw this film. When the film starts, they try to make Trump a sympatric character. I thought, here we go. They're making him someone to admire. I was wrong. The tone of the film shifts. It gets darker and darker as it goes on. The eerie soundtrack sets the tone. You start to dislike Donald Trump. You see him for the monster he really is. The movie ends on an ominous note. It's like a warning of what's to come.
Just watched this and gosh, both the two male leads are fantastic and Sebastian Stan disappears into the role. Mariak Bakalova sometimes comes across like she's still in Borat 2. Tremendous movie. 8 or 9.
5.8..?? Come on, Christie.... And no, I'm not protesting that nimber FOR trump...but that score kinda underminds the excellent work of the director, Ali Abbasi.
I know this is off topic, but I’m still thinking of Alonso’s comment that Terrifier 3 is about someone “good at their job.” Alonso, do you know any other movies like that? A Letterboxd list, if you’re into that? I love watching people being competent at work!
I have to admit to being addicted to reading about how awful Trump is, so I would end up watching this movie no matter what. It being so well done is just a bonus.😬
Just watched it for Oscar season. While I agree that Strong is the true MVP here, I was often reminded of Alan Arkin throughout his entire performance. Sounds exactly like him.
Surprisingly high score from Alonso, Christy was much closer to my score of 6.5 based off the trailer. Lol. Can't wait to see what you think of Sean Baker's new film!
I think it was fine. Love the way it was shot & the performances are really what’s holding this movie up. For it to be called The Apprentice, the first half was much more dynamic & interesting than the last half. I think the center should’ve been the relationship between Trump & Cohn, as that is the strongest element about this film. Once Cohn drops off halfway thru, just feels like we’re waiting for the movie to end despite Stan’s excellent performance.
Ali Abbasi also directed several episodes of The Last of Us and the Cannes Best Actress winning crime thriller Holy Spider, which is excellent but also very political and controversial like The Apprentice.
If it's Shakespearean maybe it's more MacBeth than Lear. Really looking forward to this. You guys should watch the Adam Curtis documentaries where he looks at how Trump bought up New York. It's very interesting.
I saw the movie this week. Though I am not a Trump supporter, I enjoyed this movie. I did not see this as political, just his relationships from years ago, and how he became the person that he is. Recommend you go see this.
Living in the UK I first became aware of Trump as a result of his high profile divorce from Ivana which got coverage here- it was treated contemptuously by our media with snide comments about the vulgarity of brash New York millionaires and their lack of any class. He next popped up in Home Alone and of course we heard about the Apprentice- although his show wasn't aired here until much later, we got our own version. In 2008 I visited NYC and did the whole open top bus tour- the tour guide was a real New York character out of central casting. He extolled us with terrific stories about the history of the city and eventually began talking about "the Donald" and boy did he go off on one! He ripped Trump to shreds, exposing all his dirty dealings and telling the tourists just how big a douche bag Trump was. It was bizarre and highly entertaining. I got the impression that the tour guide's family had been done wrong by Trump at some point. He then popped up due to the nonsensical birtherism conspiracy theory about President Obama. The famous take down and total humiliation of Trump by Obama at the correspondents dinner was show here. The rest as they say is history. Cohen has of course featured in so many documentaries and movies- his involvement with McCarthyism and then acting on behalf of the owners of Studio 54 and the tax evasion case have all been well covered here. I look forward to eventually seeing the movie and the one after that where he ends up in jail...
I was just able to see this, i absolutely loved it, but i am interested to see if this film can go the distance in award season, cause i dont feel like a lot of critics in the states are giving this film its due chance (and understqndibly so) but i not being nor living in the states was more open to give this film a chance.
Another movie reviewer who's parents are both disabled. Hope you can all give them some love and subscribe to his channel: www.youtube.com/@TalkingFandomAndSuch It doesn't take much and will help them out.
......🤔🤔I am not surprised about Trump's denial and attack because thats who he really is...The movie depicts exactly what his life was and still is.....thats the fact💯💯💯...WONDERFUL STORY ANYWAY .....
I kinda get where Christie is with feeling about this.... it does feel a lot more "how much do we know already?" I mean Ivana's book was a BIG DEAL at the time! Remember First Wives Club her line, but yeah I get it's trigger warning.... but if people need this, I kinda hope it's better than just kinda what I'm afraid of.
Okay, so unfortunately we are here again with Trump. Now please everyone watch this movie! We are literally in the nightmare so no need to be afraid of it. The acting IS THAT GOOD!
I felt empathy and sympathy for Trump through the first two acts. Then felt a little bit sorry for Cohen in the third act. I can't stand either of them, so good job on the filmakers. They did a great job and made a great movie.
I"m not sure what purpose this movie serves. We already know that the 2 leads, especially Jeremy Strong, are great actors so this isn't really a "vehicle" for either of them. This also isn't necessarily a biography or impersonation of Trump or Cohn.
This movie should've been made 20+ years from now when Trump is long gone and out of the public eye. It'll never have an audience in today's political climate.
Just finished watching it. 5.3, lady? Harsh! Both main actors were brilliant! Especially Jeremy Strong. I also give it an 8. There are MUCH worse movies out there. Trust me. This one is well worth the watch.
I appreciated this movie. My issue was towards the end when there is an inkling to start to play Cohn as sad and - to a tiny extent - sympathetic. To your point - one of the worst people of the 20th century doesn’t warrant that treatment.
I'd say after watching Trump and the other side for around 10 years, not to mention all the many books that have come out on Trump in the last several years, that by this point we understand it pretty well. Besides the election is less than a month away. If we don't understand the other side enough by this point to defeat them, then I don't know how much watching this movie is going to help in that time. I don't know if I'm going to see this. I'm not eager to spend a couple of hours trapped in a room with Trump.
I thought these were very interesting characters in a very uninteresting movie. It moves through time way to fast without showing anything we don't already know. l'd give this film a 6.
any man that's remembered in history has greed and a lot of ambition and wants unchecked power that's part of being the human alpha leader but that's like the king anything that ain't like that don't deserve to be a king I guess I were thrown or gets bossed around by one of their little underlings and they ain't really the king even though they wear the crown
I really want to see this. I think everyone needs to see this. I think that the hierarchy of MAGA (is there one?) is kicking them selves that they didn't think of making KAMALA: The Rise and Fall of the McDonald's Princess. Anyway, Trump is done. VOTE BLUE like 17% of Republicans will because they want their party back.
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Nope. Rump & MAGA only have political violence, lies, con-theory culture BS AND CON-CEPTS OF A PLAN savd for their Heritage Foindation Project 2025 Rump & Vance are 100& tied to....plus it's 2024, not 2016, we have 9 Years of Rump, 1 Jan6th Insurrection, 34-0 Guilty Convicted Felon, 4 more Fed. Indicments, and 4 MAGA SCOTUS MASSIVELY UNPOPULAR rulings the past 3 years starting with Roe Reversal. Vote Early, Bring Friends & Fam and volunteer/phonebank/door knock (especially Swing State voters) through RoeVember! We got this America :) 🌊🌴🥥🐈🐈⬛🇺🇲
@@jl91iiiWrong. Every election metric - grass root donor breaking records, Big Tent Cross Party support, in just 3 short months says so, Debate beatdown Harris v Rump, Fed Interest Rate Dropped, Biden Harris Economy is #1 in the world post the global pandemic as Inflation falls again in Sept. with another great jobs report for Biden Harris excellent 1st term. Also, Rump isn't even campaigning for inclusion since his epic debate fail "Their Eating the Dogs & Cats!" and his disgusting lies about both Hurricane Helene & Milton. HE HAS NOTHING except a slight chance because of the outdated electoral college system, but also he and the entire Rump family are nonstop Grifting more cheap China made merch, bad books (Melania) the past 2 weeks instead of a great ground GOTV game which Harris Walz 100gʻ have, plus he is already making threats to media/voters/DOJ of Big Lie 2.0 "election fraud" AGAIN which means he knows he is gonna lose. Bigly.
@@jl91iiithe polls showing "Trump Winning All Swing States and National" this week are also false, F Grade GOP owned Polling Firms added to the aggregate to muck up the averages. Kamala Harris & EVERY BLUE SENATE HOUSE candidate has been at least +1 since the Debate, most are +5 or more. GOP and lame Media did this exact same thing in 2022 midterm for the "Red Wave that never happened. Trump & MAGA candidates have lost EVERY ELECTION since 2018: Runoff, Special Seat, Abortion Measure, Midterm & General for POTUS.
Honestly, i think there are several outcomes, but i think were heading to no election, with military take over, indictments and arrests, new honest election, since last 2 were fraudulent, with trump taking presidency in december.. i think people will be shocked to see a lot of the criminal democrats arrested. I take it no one has seen THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH or THE FALL OF THE CABAL. Sounds like none of this group knows whats going on, whether trump is a good guy or not.. Hes commander in chief right now, in charge of the military.. If you know, you know. Obviously this crowd doesnt.. sorry for all the hate for trump.. justice is soon to come.
I can't believe "bigly" made its way into this movie. Eight years ago, an NPR report disproved that he ever said that; what he said was "big-league," an adjective he's used on many occasions. There are thousands of actual ridiculous things about this man. How has this one bit of b.s. persisted?
@@ericsilva-gomez2481 It's a movie about a guy who's still alive, and including falsehoods makes people who are critical of him seem like they might be fabricating lots of other things about him, which is exactly what his followers want to believe. I think the filmmaker wanted viewers to see the man for what he is in order to avert the crisis of a second presidency, so this kind of oversight is stupid.
Hi, all. It's essential to us as a channel that we keep things civilized in our comment section, so we'd appreciate it if everyone could please be decent to each other in discussing this film. We're so proud of the thoughtful community we've built here. Thank you!
@@BreakfastAllDay censorship at its finest
You say that but refer to DJT as "one of the worst people of the 21st Century." Thats not fostering a welcoming environment for movie fans who support him.
@@old77733 I mean a lot of the people who support him also think he's terrible.
The evangelicals that make up most of his base liken him to King Cyrus from the bible, a ruler who was a non-Christian who was nevertheless a useful tool for God.
@@old77733movie fans who support him shouldn't feel generally accepted 🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@old77733 It's an objective fact though isn't it though? Not sure what to do about right wing snowflakes who need cozy fictions to continue functioning.
Jeremy Strong is next level in this movie. Sebastian Stan too.
Right? So intense. Love the scene where he's doing his sit-ups.
Yeah, Jeremy Strong does a great job in this movie.
@@Prodigious1One If next year Jeremy Strong isn't hearing Oscar buzz there is no decency in this country.
@scipioafricanus5871 lol, yeah, his dedication is great.
Alonzo is always so clear and strong on how women are exploited in movies or how we might be hurt by them and it's very thoughtful. Thanks for being a loud ally to women.
I have to admit that the thought of sitting for any amount of time watching Sebastian Stan playing Trump not only turns my stomach, but I think subconsciously led me to completely block the existence of this film in my mind. Until today, after watching a really good interview with Ali Abbasi on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman. Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn is what has sold me on this film and has really piqued my interest.... that and the fact the "Trump Team" has tried to get this filmed banned (automatic 10/10). I loved Al Pacino in Angels in America and as you both have stated many actors have played Roy Cohn (evil P.O.S that he was) and have been able to get the best performances out of playing such a vile but layered individual. His connection/ mentorship into molding the Trump that we see today, makes all the sense in the world and I'm here to see Jeremy demolish the role. Also, loving the choices in the roles Sebastian is taking, great point Christy! Great review Guys!
I loved the Democracy Now interview
If you get your news from democracy Now, that explains a lot
@@Yup71719 It sure does comrade 😉. Which also gives me the opportunity to drop a few more trusted news sources. The Associated Press is where I go to get my daily 411. The Majority Report with Sam Seder for the interviews, book recommendations and daily dunking of rightwing grifters and hacks, The American Prospect has some great articles, Al Jazeera English and The Guardian b/c I need an outside perspective on both foreign and domestic news..... uhhhh who else, Zeteo with Medhi Hasan, Drop Sight News Ryan Grim, Semafor News with Dave Weigel (former political writer at WAPO), The National, Haaretz... BUT the most important place I go to feed the noodle is Verso. Not really a "news" source but it's the largest independent publishing house in the English-speaking world, publishing one hundred books a year.
Now that explains a lot more. 🙃
Saw this last night and was surprised how much it impressed me. Agree that Jeremy Strong is the MVP. I also love how Sebastian Stan plays Trump as relatively normal in the beginning and then gradually over time he picks up the mannerisms he's known for now, like he's trying on a character or workshopping a bit, and he's slowly solidifying this new persona. One of the best moments is when Stan gives him just a few seconds of actual human emotion (his voice even sounds like another person) before clamming up, not letting his wife even touch him, and clearly wanting this ~feeling~ never to happen to him again.
Of actual emotion? Trump is a human being
This was a great film! Thank you guys for the review! I can see Jeremy Strong receiving an Oscar award for his performance!
It is definitely worth seeing.
I've been waffling on The Apprentice because there's too much Trump in real life and I'm not sure I want to purposely spend a couple of hours with him. That said, it does sound interesting. Could have seen it today, but I saw Saturday Night instead and was glad I did. Very entertaining nostalgia trip for people of my generation (I was a senior in high school when SNL debuted).
I felt exactly the same way, and first chose to see Lee, which was way better than I thought it would be!! I'm glad though that I then decided to see The Apprentice after all which is mostly thoroughly enjoyable until I'd well and truly had enough by the end!!
The ironic thing is that people who hate Trump the most are the ones who are most obsessed with them and talk about them the most😅😅😅
the fact that trump has THAT much power over YOU is sad..seek help
so happy to see jeremy strong and kieran culkin in good roles of late. i miss succession so much!
And Justine Lupe is so great on Nobody Wants This!
0:35 love how Alonzo lets his real thoughts out right from the jump 💀
I’ve always admired and loved how blunt Alonso is
Trash
@@vanillamillz Well, that’s not very nice bud
Christy, I appreciate the balance you provide. Alonso opens without holding back on his feelings but as a journalist you are always objective. 😊 I love your channel guys. My go to critics!
Yeah I couldn't agree more, I was riveted for the first half but well before the end I'd totally had enough of Trump, though Jeremy Strong remains mesmerising every moment he's on screen!! I felt that ultimately the film pulled too many punches, almost glossing over the gargantuan debts never paid, business bankruptcies, questionable loans and tax manipulations. Interestingly, since the release, Ivana has spoken out against the SA, now claiming it never happened , though the producers took it directly from her court-recorded divorce testimony, so... !!🤷♀
I will wait for the sequel when it’s a story about Trump in prison.
Hopefully it’s a musical too
you'll be waiting a while
Nope
Appelette courts already happened and the lawyers are highly likely to be sanctioned for election interference. Lol
God willing
Brendan Gleeson's Trump in "The Comey Rule" was terrifying lol
He's always great!
Trump just did a podcast this week where he expressed his love for Braveheart and he said it was one of the best movies ever. I thought of how Gleeson fit into that statement. One of Trumps favorite movies had an actor who would play him later. Pretty cool.
If you see one movie this year about a psychotic clown supervillain make it The Apprentice.
@@doublefulcrum I get it!
Nobody that Loves Trump will feel differently after seeing this film. Same goes for us Trump haters. Which in itself is a win for the filmmakers/
The acting is so good that it’s worth seeing regardless
Did we really need a 'Cruella' for Donald Trump?
That is a hilarious way of describing it :)
Just got back from a packed "The Apprentice" showing at AMC Century City and I'm with Alonzo, I REALLY dug this film, great direction by Abissi, both Strong & Stan were GREAT as Cohn & Rump - same with Borat 2's Maria Bakalova as Ivana - the film's stylized direction seeming almost like a found footage doc or Grindhouse film of '70s era NYC, then a sheen brandnew VHS casette tape quality (and 4:3 aspect ratio) as the story progresses into the mid '80s - it all works great to bring you into that era.
Thematically we see the young hustling Rump, not quite yet the modern day P.T. Barnum he came to be in the mid '80s, vying so badly to be wanted, to be in the "cool kids" club, to get the respect he desired from his father Fred, and his surrogate father, the infamous lawyer & fixer...Roy Cohn. Their relationship born of Rump's fave transactional relationship style, the Quid Pro Quo, seen in these early days and even now. There are moments where the script, Sebestian Stan and director Abissi do try to pull viewer empathy for Rump in some teeny tiny attempts, but beyond the "show" of his "business" the Shell Game style of Rump's deals and his troubled relationships with his family, with his wife Ivana, with Cohn just cannot hide the dark, mean spirited, selfish snake he truly always was. Then & now.
Look if you don't know the Trump Family history or his father Fred & Donald's scummy, racist, cheapskate slumlord style of running real estate in New York bouroughs (which his shady son-in-law Jared Kushner also replicated), his SEVERAL failed Trump Casino's and side hustles, this Rump & Cohn Origin Story via the several docs, tell all books, magazine articles over the years, this film gets right at the crux of what the massively Insecure, Daddy Issues, Abusing, Using, Sociopathic fake fraud that Rump has been for decades.
You see EVERY seed of his "Monstro DonOld" penultimate form (shout out The Substance) before his current nationally & globally dangerous FINAL FORM of all his years of living his life via "Roy Cohn's 3 Rules" we non-MAGA cult sane Americans have been dealing with for nearly 10 years now.
*pairing The Apprentice with the Netflix' docu series "Dirty Money" episode The Confidence Man, or Showtime's "The Comey Rule" with Brendan Gleeson (execellent as the elder Mafia style Rump) make Abissi's film "prequel" to the Rump we know now all the more chilling.
*And if you really wanna get a terrifying glimpse of a possible present/future of the "Final Rump Form" on celluloid, Alex Garland's excellent recent April 2024 release "Civil War" is still a very possible reality should this Unfit, UnAmerica, Traitor, Con-man, Grifter, Rapist, Convicted Felon ever hold a seat of power like the Office of U.S. President again.
*also sidenote, very proud to cast my Harris Walz & Blue Downballot vote in my nearby voter dropbox before going to see "The Apprentice", looking forward to continuing my Harris Campaign, VoteSaveAmerica, Field Team 6 Phonebanking this weekend to Swing States as we are in the stretch run towards November and TURNING THE PAGE on DonOld :)
I love the idea of Trump life story as a literal monster movie with The Substance-like splits and transformations.
I understand what this movie is and what it’s all about. And I am super left wing, somewhere between Barack Obama and Che Guevara, but I have less than zero interest in watching this. Not because I disagree, but because the less time I can engage with anything Trump related, the better.
While I get any sane person's dusgust with Trump and wanting to wash their hands of him, politics engages you and you have no choice on the matter. As such, it's better to understand your enemy than to remain deliberately ignorant.
I wouldn't call Obama left wing. He's much more of a moderate or centrist.
Exactly! I don’t understand how people make everything about politics.
@@KnarfStein You're making it sound like the only responsible thing for an anti-Trumper to do is to watch this movie. No, we do have a choice. I've watched Trump for around 10 years now. And I've read several of the books that have come out on him over the last several years. I am not
IGNORANT about Trump if I choose not to watch this movie.
@@Rainbowxpride89 Obama is left-of-center, but on the moderate side of the leftist spectrum. And political
pragmatism probably moves him closer to the center than he would otherwise be.
I really enjoyed it! Incredible performances
This was really good. Strong and Stan's portrayals of Cohn and Trump were compelling
The only thing I liked about this movie was the cinematography, Jeremy Strong's performance and I'm glad Sebastian Stan didn't use a Trump voice to make it more realistic.
For sure, it would have teetered on being an SNL sketch if he'd done the voice.
The really neat thing about this review is that you really don't learn how the reviewers feel about Trump personally outside the film.
I know right the reviewer is a total Tool. TDS
Trump has already threatened lawsuits against the producers and distributors.
Since I unfortunately started paying attention to Donald Trump when he descended his “golden” escalator at the Trump Tower on June 16, 2015 to begin his first political campaign - almost ten years ago - nothing in this movie was new to me but as a biography it hit ALL the notes about him in the 1970s and 80s. This movie was well written (100% plausible dialog and situations), superbly acted and produced, and when it ended after two hours I felt dirty and in need of a hot shower.
Where to see?
Thank you for your thorough review. I’m glad I went to see this film today! Glad that the people who wanted it banned didn’t get their way. And I definitely think Ivana took a lot of what she saw and knew to her grave - under the golf course.
Can’t wait to see it!
The thing I find funny about people opposed to Trump is they think his political rivals are less evil than he is.
Less insane certainly
Ignorance is the root of evil, so Trump is certainly more of a danger
He's probably worse on the personal level, by all accounts of his character and relationships, but in terms of politics, the Republicans and the Democrats are both absolutely terrible.
I don't think it was so much "the movie the Trump campaign doesn't want you to see" as it was "the movie the Harris campaign desperately NEEDS you to see, please please, please."
How'd that turn out for you guys? Maybe you need to really rev it up and make an even worse smear movie shitting on a candidate during an election cycle. Good luck next time?
Great review! Lots of thoughtful points. I thought the scene was hilarious with Trump trying to stop Don Jr. from crying. Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong were both great. Unfortunately, the real drama of the upcoming election is too much for most people to want to see more of Trump in the theater, a place they usually go to escape reality. If Trump sees it, he'll be outraged at the accuracy of it.
I didn't know what to expect when I saw this film. When the film starts, they try to make Trump a sympatric character. I thought, here we go. They're making him someone to admire. I was wrong. The tone of the film shifts. It gets darker and darker as it goes on. The eerie soundtrack sets the tone. You start to dislike Donald Trump. You see him for the monster he really is. The movie ends on an ominous note. It's like a warning of what's to come.
this is my favorite movie of this year, so far.... strong performances and direction.
Ali Abbasi's got a promising career ahead of him.
8/10
They said this movie is way better than Joker 2.
Exciting- seeing this at the LFF this week- this review is great! x
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the file, In A Violent Nature.
We gotta get Alonso to watch Succession! Lol
I remember why Breakfast All Day stopped discussing politics with the week recap segment
Just watched this and gosh, both the two male leads are fantastic and Sebastian Stan disappears into the role. Mariak Bakalova sometimes comes across like she's still in Borat 2. Tremendous movie. 8 or 9.
I can’t bring myself to spend 2 hours watching him. What are the chances he will simply ignore it….while Don Jr and Eric threaten lawsuits….?
This made almost $1.6M opening weekend. Placing 10th place at the box office. You ever heard the expression, read the room?
Hi from England. This was my 58th film of the year and enjoyed it very much. A well crafted film. 7/10 for me.
Hello to you in England 👋 That’s a lot of movies!
When it comes to this kind of thing I always pay more attention to dry documentaries.
But I'll probably watch this one for the artistic aspects.
90% of The Apprentice is neither for or against Trump, it is a Rorschach Test.
And I'm sure the other 10% is ultra supportive of him 😂😂😂
@@greatdelusion7654 ummm...no. It portrays him as a drug user and worse.
@@JoJoJoker
Lol someone doesn't understand sarcasm but nevermind.
5.8..??
Come on, Christie.... And no, I'm not protesting that nimber FOR trump...but that score kinda underminds the excellent work of the director, Ali Abbasi.
I know this is off topic, but I’m still thinking of Alonso’s comment that Terrifier 3 is about someone “good at their job.” Alonso, do you know any other movies like that? A Letterboxd list, if you’re into that? I love watching people being competent at work!
Heat, Thief, Riffi
3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR, specifically Max Von Sydow's character.
I have to admit to being addicted to reading about how awful Trump is, so I would end up watching this movie no matter what. It being so well done is just a bonus.😬
Just watched it for Oscar season. While I agree that Strong is the true MVP here, I was often reminded of Alan Arkin throughout his entire performance. Sounds exactly like him.
Did not think of that, will have to listen back. He's so great in this movie (and everything).
I loved the Apprentice. It reminded me of Wall Street and its loveable rascal Gordon Gekko who was ruthless to the core.
Great to see Sebastian Stan breaking out of the Marvel circuit.
He does make interesting choices!
Surprisingly high score from Alonso, Christy was much closer to my score of 6.5 based off the trailer. Lol. Can't wait to see what you think of Sean Baker's new film!
We'll review this week!
I think it was fine. Love the way it was shot & the performances are really what’s holding this movie up. For it to be called The Apprentice, the first half was much more dynamic & interesting than the last half. I think the center should’ve been the relationship between Trump & Cohn, as that is the strongest element about this film. Once Cohn drops off halfway thru, just feels like we’re waiting for the movie to end despite Stan’s excellent performance.
Agree with all of that. It's much less interesting without Jeremy Strong.
The book Alonso chooses to display in his bookshelf speaks volumes as to his agenda against Trump.
Ali Abbasi also directed several episodes of The Last of Us and the Cannes Best Actress winning crime thriller Holy Spider, which is excellent but also very political and controversial like The Apprentice.
If it's Shakespearean maybe it's more MacBeth than Lear.
Really looking forward to this.
You guys should watch the Adam Curtis documentaries where he looks at how Trump bought up New York. It's very interesting.
I saw the movie this week. Though I am not a Trump supporter, I enjoyed this movie. I did not see this as political, just his relationships from years ago, and how he became the person that he is. Recommend you go see this.
Living in the UK I first became aware of Trump as a result of his high profile divorce from Ivana which got coverage here- it was treated contemptuously by our media with snide comments about the vulgarity of brash New York millionaires and their lack of any class.
He next popped up in Home Alone and of course we heard about the Apprentice- although his show wasn't aired here until much later, we got our own version.
In 2008 I visited NYC and did the whole open top bus tour- the tour guide was a real New York character out of central casting. He extolled us with terrific stories about the history of the city and eventually began talking about "the Donald" and boy did he go off on one! He ripped Trump to shreds, exposing all his dirty dealings and telling the tourists just how big a douche bag Trump was. It was bizarre and highly entertaining. I got the impression that the tour guide's family had been done wrong by Trump at some point.
He then popped up due to the nonsensical birtherism conspiracy theory about President Obama. The famous take down and total humiliation of Trump by Obama at the correspondents dinner was show here.
The rest as they say is history.
Cohen has of course featured in so many documentaries and movies- his involvement with McCarthyism and then acting on behalf of the owners of Studio 54 and the tax evasion case have all been well covered here.
I look forward to eventually seeing the movie and the one after that where he ends up in jail...
Alonso you gotta watch Succession dude! :)
I was just able to see this, i absolutely loved it, but i am interested to see if this film can go the distance in award season, cause i dont feel like a lot of critics in the states are giving this film its due chance (and understqndibly so) but i not being nor living in the states was more open to give this film a chance.
this was a pretty good movie and needs a part 2 and a part 3
Another movie reviewer who's parents are both disabled. Hope you can all give them some love and subscribe to his channel: www.youtube.com/@TalkingFandomAndSuch
It doesn't take much and will help them out.
Good movie, better than Joker 2.
......🤔🤔I am not surprised about Trump's denial and attack because thats who he really is...The movie depicts exactly what his life was and still is.....thats the fact💯💯💯...WONDERFUL STORY ANYWAY .....
I kinda get where Christie is with feeling about this.... it does feel a lot more "how much do we know already?" I mean Ivana's book was a BIG DEAL at the time! Remember First Wives Club her line, but yeah I get it's trigger warning.... but if people need this, I kinda hope it's better than just kinda what I'm afraid of.
Both leads I daresay are Oscar worthy performances!!??
Okay, so unfortunately we are here again with Trump. Now please everyone watch this movie! We are literally in the nightmare so no need to be afraid of it. The acting IS THAT GOOD!
I felt empathy and sympathy for Trump through the first two acts. Then felt a little bit sorry for Cohen in the third act. I can't stand either of them, so good job on the filmakers. They did a great job and made a great movie.
Maybe after the election...
At least it's an unbiased review. That's sarcasm 🙄
I"m not sure what purpose this movie serves. We already know that the 2 leads, especially Jeremy Strong, are great actors so this isn't really a "vehicle" for either of them. This also isn't necessarily a biography or impersonation of Trump or Cohn.
Who won?
I want to watch this to see Jeremy Strong
I honestly felt like Coen was sympathetic in the film
This movie should've been made 20+ years from now when Trump is long gone and out of the public eye.
It'll never have an audience in today's political climate.
Just finished watching it. 5.3, lady? Harsh! Both main actors were brilliant! Especially Jeremy Strong. I also give it an 8. There are MUCH worse movies out there. Trust me. This one is well worth the watch.
I enjoyed watching the movie. I don't know about how factual it is but I like how Trump transforms into the man we now know.
I appreciated this movie. My issue was towards the end when there is an inkling to start to play Cohn as sad and - to a tiny extent - sympathetic. To your point - one of the worst people of the 20th century doesn’t warrant that treatment.
Why? Terrible people also have sad moments. How would you portray a person dying of AIDS? Comedic? Happy? Triumphant?!
Hubby and I really enjoyed this movie.
I’m a progressive and I’m interested in watching this. I believe that in order to defeat the other side, we must understand it.
I'd say after watching Trump and the other side for around 10 years, not to mention all the many books that have come out on Trump in the last several years, that by this point we understand it pretty well.
Besides the election is less than a month away. If we don't understand the other side enough by this point to defeat them, then I don't know how much watching this movie is going to help in that time.
I don't know if I'm going to see this. I'm not eager to spend a couple of hours trapped in a room
with Trump.
you dont need to watch this film to learn anything more, we've seen enough
9 Years of Rump...YEAH, WE SANE VOTING AMERICANS UNDERSTAND TOTALLY!
Harris Walz & Blue Downballot 🌊🌴🥥🐈🐈⬛🇺🇲
@@BluePrada Some young people don't know who Roy Cohn was
LOL don't cry when that Indian chick loses.
I thought these were very interesting characters in a very uninteresting movie. It moves through time way to fast without showing anything we don't already know. l'd give this film a 6.
any man that's remembered in history has greed and a lot of ambition and wants unchecked power that's part of being the human alpha leader but that's like the king anything that ain't like that don't deserve to be a king I guess I were thrown or gets bossed around by one of their little underlings and they ain't really the king even though they wear the crown
well he did become president of the United States and he is a Great hero
Unfortunately, the people who would maybe like this movie, are very, very, VERY sick of Trump.
Yeah, this isn't going to change anyone's mind.
Roy Cohn bully, coward, victim.
I really want to see this. I think everyone needs to see this. I think that the hierarchy of MAGA (is there one?) is kicking them selves that they didn't think of making KAMALA: The Rise and Fall of the McDonald's Princess. Anyway, Trump is done. VOTE BLUE like 17% of Republicans will because they want their party back.
LOL Indian Harris will lose.
@@MasonGrant0704 it will be better if she wins. Trump is crazy
Too bad it didn't work It made me like Trump even more Trump 2024
5.3? Lady, you couldn't make a better movie about Trump if you’ve dedicated your entire life to it.
You’re right, but that’s also not my job. Thanks for watching.
I'm a mother of four children living in Gaza. Many may not be aware of our situation; we are enduring a brutal war. We are suffering from hunger, poverty, and illness. I urgently need assistance to provide food, winter clothing, and medical care for my children. Please help.
I'll vote Trump so that war will end.
Jeremy Strong? They couldn't get Nathan Lane?
I take it you two aren't Trump supporters,😅
Can’t wait to see the film about the Biden crime ring
Anyone else here have a freaky feeling he will win again 😮
I think he will. Kamala is a horrible candidate, and Trump is doing better in the polls than he did in 2016 or 2020
Nope. Rump & MAGA only have political violence, lies, con-theory culture BS AND CON-CEPTS OF A PLAN savd for their Heritage Foindation Project 2025 Rump & Vance are 100& tied to....plus it's 2024, not 2016, we have 9 Years of Rump, 1 Jan6th Insurrection, 34-0 Guilty Convicted Felon, 4 more Fed. Indicments, and 4 MAGA SCOTUS MASSIVELY UNPOPULAR rulings the past 3 years starting with Roe Reversal. Vote Early, Bring Friends & Fam and volunteer/phonebank/door knock (especially Swing State voters) through RoeVember! We got this America :)
🌊🌴🥥🐈🐈⬛🇺🇲
@@jl91iiiWrong. Every election metric - grass root donor breaking records, Big Tent Cross Party support, in just 3 short months says so, Debate beatdown Harris v Rump, Fed Interest Rate Dropped, Biden Harris Economy is #1 in the world post the global pandemic as Inflation falls again in Sept. with another great jobs report for Biden Harris excellent 1st term.
Also, Rump isn't even campaigning for inclusion since his epic debate fail "Their Eating the Dogs & Cats!" and his disgusting lies about both Hurricane Helene & Milton. HE HAS NOTHING except a slight chance because of the outdated electoral college system, but also he and the entire Rump family are nonstop Grifting more cheap China made merch, bad books (Melania) the past 2 weeks instead of a great ground GOTV game which Harris Walz 100gʻ have, plus he is already making threats to media/voters/DOJ of Big Lie 2.0 "election fraud" AGAIN which means he knows he is gonna lose. Bigly.
@@jl91iiithe polls showing "Trump Winning All Swing States and National" this week are also false, F Grade GOP owned Polling Firms added to the aggregate to muck up the averages. Kamala Harris & EVERY BLUE SENATE HOUSE candidate has been at least +1 since the Debate, most are +5 or more. GOP and lame Media did this exact same thing in 2022 midterm for the "Red Wave that never happened. Trump & MAGA candidates have lost EVERY ELECTION since 2018: Runoff, Special Seat, Abortion Measure, Midterm & General for POTUS.
Honestly, i think there are several outcomes, but i think were heading to no election, with military take over, indictments and arrests, new honest election, since last 2 were fraudulent, with trump taking presidency in december.. i think people will be shocked to see a lot of the criminal democrats arrested. I take it no one has seen THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH or THE FALL OF THE CABAL. Sounds like none of this group knows whats going on, whether trump is a good guy or not.. Hes commander in chief right now, in charge of the military.. If you know, you know. Obviously this crowd doesnt.. sorry for all the hate for trump.. justice is soon to come.
Barron Trump son of a president future NBA All-Star time traveler
Nope. The less Trump in my head the better regardless of the quality of the film.
He will win again and you will cry.
@@MasonGrant0704 i hope not
hes aWFUL
I can't believe "bigly" made its way into this movie. Eight years ago, an NPR report disproved that he ever said that; what he said was "big-league," an adjective he's used on many occasions. There are thousands of actual ridiculous things about this man. How has this one bit of b.s. persisted?
It’s a movie, not a documentary
@@ericsilva-gomez2481 It's a movie about a guy who's still alive, and including falsehoods makes people who are critical of him seem like they might be fabricating lots of other things about him, which is exactly what his followers want to believe. I think the filmmaker wanted viewers to see the man for what he is in order to avert the crisis of a second presidency, so this kind of oversight is stupid.
@@WaitingtoHit Probably, but I don’t care. The film even says at the beginning that at least some things were fictionalized for the film.
When you jump the shark and make a movie review your activist podcast, and over a B movie.
I thought you guys got all your information from scumbag podcasters.
Lol funny review. Such weak mentality. But never mind 😊
Orange man, baaaaaaaaad
It will be a blast to watch Harris lose and see the left cry again.
Because it worked so well four years ago?
Don’t forget that the script was written by Ali Abbasi and Gabriel as Ali Abbasi has changed the script hugely.
Hope trump wins!
He will. The BEST IS YET TO COME!! lol..
Seek help.
YUP! TRUMP2024!