Sebastian Stan, the star of the new and controversial film *The Apprentice*, believes former President Donald Trump "should be grateful" for how the film portrays him. Stan, who plays Trump in the movie, expressed that the film offers a "complex, three-dimensional take" on Trump's early years as a New York real estate mogul. Trump, however, has expressed his displeasure with the film, calling it "fake and classless" and threatening legal action against its producers. He also voiced hope that the film would "bomb" at the box office.

 

 

*The Apprentice*, which explores Trump’s life during the 1970s and 80s, specifically highlights his relationship with lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn, played by *Succession* star Jeremy Strong. Cohn, a controversial figure, taught Trump certain principles, including never admitting defeat. The film has not been without challenges, with director Ali Abbasi describing its production and release as "the most challenging thing I’ve ever done."

 

 

The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. Abbasi recalled thinking that there would be a bidding war among distributors such as Warner Bros. and Netflix. However, the reality was far from his expectations. Abbasi revealed that securing a distributor was "extremely difficult" due to Trump's threats of legal action.

 

Despite these obstacles, the film was eventually released in the U.S. last week, though it has struggled at the box office.

The film's UK release is set for Friday, following its British premiere at the London Film Festival. Abbasi stressed the importance of releasing the film before the upcoming U.S. election on November 5, where Trump will face Kamala Harris. He remarked, "Intellectually and as an artist, it's much more exciting [to release it now]."

 

Jeremy Strong, who portrays Roy Cohn, suggested that while the film is not a political statement, it may influence some voters. "In some small way, I think it could move the needle on how people feel [about] or perceive him, but the film is not a political act, it's a story," Strong said.

 

The film has received mixed reviews, and there is speculation about its potential impact during awards season. Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson noted that the outcome of the U.S. election could play a crucial role in whether the movie is considered for an Oscar nomination. "If Trump wins the election, I don't think [awards voters] will want to have anything to do with this movie," Lawson said, suggesting that a win for Kamala Harris might allow for a more favorable reception.

 

Stan’s portrayal of Trump is not a caricature or exaggerated, comedic take often seen in impressions of the former president. Instead, *The Apprentice* presents a more serious and nuanced study of Trump’s early years and his relationship with Cohn, which shaped his future. Stan reflected on the complexity of the characters, stating, "They [Trump and Cohn] are very complex individuals, and that's what it's like in life, no-one is morally completely on the right side or perfect in any way."

 

Stan concluded by asserting, "I think [Trump] should be grateful, to be honest. We have pretty much handed him, I think, a very complex, three-dimensional take on his life, and I can't recall anybody else doing that."

 

Based on a report from the BBC 2024-10-17

 

 

 

I think it's a reasonably accurate portrayal based upon the trailers that I've seen so far. I was in commercial real estate in New York during the 1980s and I know many people who had direct dealings with Trump, and they say that's about who he is. He's a numbskull, he's a nitwit, he's a very ignorant man, he's not particularly smart, he is a huckster, and he's spectacularly arrogant.

 

Worst of all he's an unbelievable cheapskate, the guys that did deals with him said that he absolutely refused to leave $1 on the table, that's just who he is. 

That may be his business style but he is also a generous person.  He is not like he is portrayed by the Left and the media.  The US and the world will be a safer place with him in office again.  Look at the war fires started by Biden.  Does anyone really think Harris and Walz can bring the temperature down.  If Trumps wins the enemies of the US will do all they can to grab as much as they can before Trump takes office.  The time between Nov 5th and Jan 20th 2025 will be very dangerous.  I will be out of the country during this time.  Just like Harris and Walz are not like the media portrays them.  The portrayal is so different from the truth.

23 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I think it's a reasonably accurate portrayal based upon the trailers that I've seen so far.

 you mean you think its accurate based on not having seen the film.

that's like saying I think that steak is delicious based on the pictures

19 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

That may be his business style but he is also a generous person.  He is not like he is portrayed by the Left and the media.  The US and the world will be a safer place with him in office again.  Look at the war fires started by Biden.  Does anyone really think Harris and Walz can bring the temperature down.  If Trumps wins the enemies of the US will do all they can to grab as much as they can before Trump takes office.  The time between Nov 5th and Jan 20th 2025 will be very dangerous.  I will be out of the country during this time.  Just like Harris and Walz are not like the media portrays them.  The portrayal is so different from the truth.

 

What crap.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Worst of all he's an unbelievable cheapskate

 

56 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

he is also a generous person

Hmm, I wonder which one is right. Didn’t Trump just admit that he hated paying overtime, that he just wouldn’t do that?  How many small contractors did he stiff with the bill? What about Trump’s charity organization? How much of the money that he collected for charity did actually go to charity? How many times did he give a round to everyone in a restaurant or bar, and then just walked out without paying? Many more examples of that kind of callous cheapskate behavior can be found if you spend a couple of minutes on Google. 

It can only be assumed that the delayed timing of the release of this movie had nothing to do with the alleged circulation difficulties referred to, rather a deliberate attempt to undermine Trump's chances on November 5.

33 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

It can only be assumed that the delayed timing of the release of this movie had nothing to do with the alleged circulation difficulties referred to, rather a deliberate attempt to undermine Trump's chances on November 5.

if people still support trump at this late stage, no movie will deter them. 

11 minutes ago, madone said:

if people still support trump at this late stage, no movie will deter them. 

No movies, no facts, no NOTHIN'. They're hopelessly lost.

1 hour ago, madone said:

if people still support trump at this late stage, no movie will deter them. 

Hence my reference to 'attempt'.

5 hours ago, thaipo7 said:

That may be his business style but he is also a generous person.  He is not like he is portrayed by the Left and the media.  The US and the world will be a safer place with him in office again.  Look at the war fires started by Biden.  Does anyone really think Harris and Walz can bring the temperature down.  If Trumps wins the enemies of the US will do all they can to grab as much as they can before Trump takes office.  The time between Nov 5th and Jan 20th 2025 will be very dangerous.  I will be out of the country during this time.  Just like Harris and Walz are not like the media portrays them.  The portrayal is so different from the truth.

Ahhh ookkaaaa………trump will bleat whine and play the poor victim if the movie doesn’t portray him in some superficial flattering way.we all know the guy got a big inheritance stiffs contractors embezzled from his charity is a serial sexual assaulter a pathological liar and a malignant narcissist he is what he is it’s ugly and NOT someone we want in charge.

11 hours ago, thaipo7 said:

That may be his business style but he is also a generous person.  He is not like he is portrayed by the Left and the media.  The US and the world will be a safer place with him in office again.  Look at the war fires started by Biden.  Does anyone really think Harris and Walz can bring the temperature down.  If Trumps wins the enemies of the US will do all they can to grab as much as they can before Trump takes office.  The time between Nov 5th and Jan 20th 2025 will be very dangerous.  I will be out of the country during this time.  Just like Harris and Walz are not like the media portrays them.  The portrayal is so different from the truth.

Can you please cite just one incident of his personal generosity, his charitable contributions, and the ways that he is benefiting mankind with his fortune? Just one. 

9 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

It can only be assumed that the delayed timing of the release of this movie had nothing to do with the alleged circulation difficulties referred to, rather a deliberate attempt to undermine Trump's chances on November 5.

And that is a beautiful thing, anything that can be done to deliberately undermine his chances on November 5th, could be a huge benefit to the entire planet, and mankind. 

11 hours ago, madone said:

 you mean you think its accurate based on not having seen the film.

that's like saying I think that steak is delicious based on the pictures

Well I did see the a few different trailers, and they portrayed Trump as a bumbling fool who's relatively incoherent, not smart, lacking any sort of grace and dignity, and makes decisions based entirely upon ego, so that seems fairly accurate. 

12 hours ago, thaipo7 said:

That may be his business style but he is also a generous person.  He is not like he is portrayed by the Left and the media.  The US and the world will be a safer place with him in office again.  Look at the war fires started by Biden.  Does anyone really think Harris and Walz can bring the temperature down.  If Trumps wins the enemies of the US will do all they can to grab as much as they can before Trump takes office.  The time between Nov 5th and Jan 20th 2025 will be very dangerous.  I will be out of the country during this time.  Just like Harris and Walz are not like the media portrays them.  The portrayal is so different from the truth.

How is he generous?

 

"I hate Obamacare, I want absolutely nothing to with it!  This ACA (Affordable Healthcare Act) sounds pretty good."

 

This is the sentiment of a lot of DT supporters.  It doesn't make sense to you?  Ah, then you are not a MAGA fan.

 

5 hours ago, bendejo said:

"I hate Obamacare, I want absolutely nothing to with it!  This ACA (Affordable Healthcare Act) sounds pretty good."

 

This is the sentiment of a lot of DT supporters.  It doesn't make sense to you?  Ah, then you are not a MAGA fan.

 

The cheapest obamacare health insurance, a bronze plan, would have cost me $1,200.00 a month, could have only been used in 5 states, I needed permission from the insurance company before I could see any doctor, had a $12,000.00 yearly deductible, and would have only covered me and not my wife.   The bronze health insurance plan did not cover medication.  That would have been an extra monthly cost.

 

So I kept the insurance I had when I retired, which I am now paying about $850.00 a month for, which covers my wife and I anywhere in the world, for any illness.  My wife can see any doctor she wants, any time she wants, without getting permission from the health insurance first.   I forget what the deductible is and my wife has a copay of about $25 -$30.00 per visit.    

 

I am covered by Medicare first and my health insurance second, but only in the United States.   I use my health insurance in Thailand as does my wife.    I pay nothing for medical treatment, just the monthly payments.  If Medicare does not pay for it, then the health insurance does.   

 

The health insurance also covers medication.   A three month supply of a prescribed medication costs me $10.00 for meds and $10.00 for shipping when sent to me from the mail pharmacy.   That includes a medicine that cost me $350.00 for a 14 day supply when I forgot to renew it through the health insurance mail pharmacy.   If I were living in Thailand, the mail pharmacy would charge me more than $10.00 for shipping I think. 

 

 

 

I can't imagine many changing their vote if they see the movie. Most Maga have made up their minds and liberals will laugh and move on.