The Apprentice Review: Sebastian Stan’s Donald Trump drama is a scary but somewhat uneven feature film

There’s probably no easy way to make a film about Donald Trump, because no matter what your opinion of the man, balance is key when trying to appeal to a wider audience. Viewers and critics alike should keep this in mind when watching director Ali Abbasi’s film The apprenticebecause the drama about the New York real estate mogul’s rise to power in the 1980s actually manages to achieve this particular success. Although it is not as difficult as some would like, it also does not shy away from depicting events that have gone down in history. While this makes for powerful performances, it’s in service of a plot that feels a bit unfocused.

During the events of The apprenticewe see Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) go from a wealthy upstart in late 1970s New York to a man on the verge of co-authoring The art of the deal Mid 80s. This rise coincides with the fall of notorious lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), helping him ensure his client learns the lessons he needs to rise to the top.