In the sleaze and scandal-filled New York City of the 1970s, an ambitious young rack-renter dreams of success, power and recognition.
Donald Trump, son of a modest slumlord, turns to master of the dark arts, Roy Cohn, to learn what it takes to become a winner.
The Apprentice dramatises Donald Trump’s rise to prominence as the protégé of Cohn, an unscrupulous reactionary and Epstein-style blackmail artist.
How did we get here? Watch #TheApprentice, now playing in theaters and at home on demand. https://t.co/syzMcmWReR pic.twitter.com/i74x97Z62K
— The Apprentice (@ApprenticeMov) November 6, 2024
Young Donald learns from Cohn the no-holds-barred aggressive manner of doing business, as well as the need to establish a public persona to cover for a private life filled with debauchery.
One issue: Donald is a teetotalling family-man.
But not for long! Donald soon fulfils his dream of becoming NYC royalty, and predictably, the apprentice becomes the master.
Cohn is callously dispensed with once Trump has his name in giant golden letters on Trump Tower. Bizarrely, the film tries to make us feel bad for the villainous Cohn finally getting what he deserves.
The film concludes with Cohn’s 1986 death from AIDS, and Trump beginning work on his infamous book, The Art of the Deal.
Little else other than Trump’s relationship with Cohn is really explored in any depth in this film, which generally fails to demonise Trump by this association, and leaves out the actual rise to American celebrity that eventually gave us President Trump.
Sure, there are a few scenes of extravagant social occasions where the great and good of New York are invited so that Trump can shake hands and play nice, but it is all kept in the background.
The prominence of Cohn takes the place of the much broader, and more sinister, actual US ruling circles that Trump spent years ingratiating himself with, turning him into a household name.
Small details such as the fact that Trump for decades was a Democrat, and was close to liberal figures like the Clintons and Oprah, is written out in favour of emphasising his connections (via Cohn) to campy conservatives like Roger Stone and the Presidency of Ronald Reagan.
The 42nd president of the United States and the 45th president of the United States pic.twitter.com/fSxQOz1hIF
— Nick Timiraos (@NickTimiraos) May 4, 2016
While there are some salacious details and drama, The Apprentice doesn’t hit at much truth behind Trump. He is the shadow of the US ruling class, sharing their avarice, hypocrisy and opportunism. In this, the apprentice learned from the best.
