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Writer's pictureSmash Hit Chronicles

The Apprentice (2024)

Yesterday, we were invited to the special screening premiere of the film in Delhi & Bangalore. Aditya & Shantanu attended the Delhi screening & Abhinav attended the Bangalore one. It was a great experience overall!



Now about The Apprentice, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. A film about young Donald Trump and his mentor Roy Cohn? It sounded intense, but we figured it’d at least be interesting. Turns out, it was definitely a ride! Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn really brought the drama. The film dives into Trump’s early days in New York real estate, showing how his relationship with Cohn shaped him into the businessman we all know today. It’s not just about Trump’s rise to power; it’s also about the darker side of ambition and the cost of winning at any price.


We’ve got to say, the acting was top-notch. Stan managed to pull off a younger Trump without turning it into a parody, which we appreciated. There were moments where you could actually see a more vulnerable side to the guy before he fully transformed into the ruthless mogul. And then there’s Jeremy Strong as Cohn; oh man, he stole every scene he was in. He played Cohn as this mix of mentor and manipulator, and while we didn’t exactly “like” him, we were definitely glued to the screen whenever he was on. Their dynamic was just wild to watch unfold, especially as Trump started adopting Cohn’s cutthroat rules for success.


Image Source: TMDB


The film nails the vibe of 1970s and ’80s New York, with all the grit and glitz you’d expect. The look they created with the colour grade and cinematography was nice, but the constant switch from the VGA camera to the sharp cine camera look, was a bit distracting. Editing is quite documentary-esque which suits this kind of story. We loved the way it captured that era's chaos, from the grimy streets to the disco soundtrack. But, if we’re being honest, the pacing got a bit wonky in the last act. Things kind of dragged when Trump’s personal life and business troubles started to unravel. By then, it felt like the film had already made its point, so the extra 10 minutes didn’t add much for us. Still, the tension kept us engaged, even if we were ready for it to wrap up sooner.


The film had its fair share of shocking moments, especially in the way it showed Trump’s transformation. There were parts where we were like, “Whoa, did that really happen?” But overall, it felt like it struggled to dig deep enough into what makes him tick. It did a good job showing his evolution, but we wanted a bit more insight into his mindset. Instead, it leaned heavily on Cohn's influence and left us wondering about Trump’s internal struggles.


Image Source: TMDB


TSHC Score: 7/10

The Apprentice wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely worth watching. The film has great performances and the way it captured the atmosphere of the time. It’s not the kind of movie that’ll change your views on Trump, but it does give you a glimpse into how someone becomes, well, that guy. If anything, it sparked a lot of conversation afterwards, and isn’t that what a good film’s supposed to do?


Image Source: TMDB

 

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