The Apprentice reviews verdict: Critics give glowing praise to Sebastian Stan’s performance as Donald Trump in ‘gleefully vulgar’ biopic

Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice has received mostly positive reviews from critics who have praised it as a “happy” and fast-paced story with strong performances.

The film, directed by Ali Abbassi and written by Gabriel Sherman, follows Trump during his career as a real estate baron in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sebastian Stan stars as the businessman turned politician, while Jeremy Strong plays his lawyer Roy Cohn and Maria Bakalova plays Trump’s ex-wife, Ivana.

In a largely positive review, The New York Times called the film “gleefully vulgar” and said there was a “surprising” resemblance between the leads Sebastian and Jeremy and the real men they portray.

Reviewer Manohla Dargis wrote, “Each actor has clearly made a careful study of his character’s real-life counterpart, his mannerisms, how he moves and especially his voice.”

The film, directed by Ali Abbassi and written by Gabriel Sherman, follows Trump during his career as a real estate baron in the 1970s and 1980s.

She added: “The film encourages you to laugh at its extremes, its vanity and boastfulness. The one thing the filmmakers don’t prepare you for, even though you should know better, is the magnitude of the American tragedy that quickly unfolds before you. .

In another positive review said the Los Angeles Times said Sebastian Stan delivers “the performance of his career to date” and also praised the film’s cinematography for capturing the 1980s setting.

Reviewer Katie Walsh added: “Some may want ‘The Apprentice’ to move on. It makes Trump more human. But it also provides a starkly obvious depiction of how a man can turn into a monster with the right personality, background, and guidance. What else could it say?’

Film fan site JoBlo also gave The Apprentice a favorable review, saying that Jeremy Strong’s performance as Roy Cohn made him the “real star” of the film.

Reviewer Chris Bumbray wrote: ‘Abbasi delivers a tremendous sense of pacing, making it a lean and average two hours, and entertaining from start to finish no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.’

The Washington Post gave the film a less positive review, awarding it only 2.5 out of five stars, largely because he felt the film did not take a stance on its main character.

Reviewer Ty Burr wrote, “Maybe there’s no hidden self in Donald Trump. What we see is what we get. Since the film’s only storyline is the man becoming the monster (or, for some, the messiah) he seemed destined to be, there is no dramatic tension to move the film forward.

“For any sense of tragedy there should be at least a glimmer of self-knowledge, and the Trump of the film – like, one suspects, the real man – remains deeply incurious about himself or anything outside himself.”

Sebastian Stan (left) stars as the businessman turned politician, while Jeremy Strong plays his lawyer Roy Cohn and Maria Bakalova (right) plays Trump’s ex-wife Ivana

The New York Times called the film “cheerfully vulgar” and said there was a “surprising” resemblance between the leads Sebastian and Jeremy and the real men they portray.

Good morning America gave the film a positive review and joined others in praising the acting.

Reviewer Peter Travers wrote, “Wherever you stand on the Trump divide, there’s no arguing that Stan and Strong deserve a place in the Oscar race as they burn up the screen.”

Together with others, The New Yorker praised the acting but felt many of the supporting characters were lacking on screen.

Reviewer Richard Brody wrote, “The supporting performances, impressive as they are, merely outline characters, rather than embody them — as Abbasi’s merely efficient direction leaves the actors little time and little onscreen space to delve into their roles .

‘The film contains many dramatic incidents, but steers clear of broader implications or inner lives.’

Sebastian Stan has received critical acclaim for his performance as Donald Trump

It comes after the Trump campaign announced it would sue the ‘pretending filmmakers’ behind The Apprentice because it shows the presidential candidate raping his wife Ivana.

It said it was full of long-debunked lies and belonged in a “dumpster fire.”

The film tells the story of the end of his marriage to Ivana, and at one point shows Trump raping his wife and asking, “Did I find your g-spot?”

In a 1989 divorce decree, Ivana made an accusation of rape, but withdrew it in 2015. She has now passed away.

“We will file a lawsuit to address the blatantly false claims made by these so-called filmmakers,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign director.

“This garbage is pure fiction that sensationalizes lies that have long been debunked.

“Just like the illegal Biden trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and defeat the candidate of his choice because nothing they have done has worked.

Ivana (photo, left) was married to Donald Trump (photo, right) from 1977 to 1990

“This ‘movie’ is pure malicious slander, should not see the light of day and does not even deserve a place in the direct-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-close discount film store, it belongs in a dumpster.”

The makers of the film are also said to be in a dispute with one of its financiers, billionaire Dan Snyder, a Trump supporter and former donor to his campaign.

In Ivana Trump’s 1990 divorce decree, she stated that Trump had raped her. She claimed Trump pushed her to the ground and pulled out several handfuls of her hair.

Trump denied the accusation and Ivana Trump later said she didn’t mean it literally, but that she felt violated.

In a 1993 statement, she said: “In 1989, Mr. Trump and I had a marital relationship in which he behaved toward me very differently than he did during our marriage.

“As a woman, I felt violated… I called this rape, but I don’t want my words to be interpreted literally or criminally.”