Movie buffs get ready to talk about the film that’s got everyone buzzing and maybe even a little bit heated: The Apprentice. This movie takes a look at Donald Trump's early days and it is definitely not holding back. From Oscar nominations to reported threats of lawsuits this film is making waves and we are here to break it all down for you.
Oscar Nods for 'The Apprentice': Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong Recognized for Performances
Despite all the controversy The Apprentice actually snagged some major Oscar love . Sebastian Stan who plays a young Donald Trump got a nomination for Best Actor. Pretty cool right? And Jeremy Strong who plays Roy Cohn Trump's mentor in the movie was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. So the performances are clearly getting noticed even if the subject matter is well… touchy.
While neither Stan nor Strong ended up taking home the gold at the 97th Academy Awards just getting nominated for a movie this talked-about is a big deal. It shows that even with all the drama surrounding The Apprentice the acting is top-notch and worth recognizing.
What's the Movie About? Inside Trump's Rise and Controversial Depiction
So what exactly is The Apprentice about that's Causing such a stir? The film dives into Donald Trump's life in the 1980s focusing on his rise in the real estate world. A key part of the story is his relationship with Roy Cohn. Cohn was a lawyer and political fixer who became a mentor to Trump and the movie explores how Cohn's influence shaped Trump's approach to business and life.
Now here's where things get spicy. The Apprentice does not paint a flattering picture. It reportedly includes some seriously controversial scenes including one depicting Trump sexually assaulting his then-wife Ivana Trump. Yeah it is heavy stuff. Unsurprisingly this has caused a major backlash especially from Trump himself.
Trump's Team Reportedly Threatens Lawsuit: "Defamatory" and "Disgusting"
Donald Trump's reaction to The Apprentice has been well… strong. His team has reportedly called the movie a "cheap defamatory and politically disgusting hatchet job". They have even threatened to sue the filmmakers to try and stop it. Calling it something that "Belongs in a dumpster fire" is definitely not a rave review.
Despite the threats and controversy the filmmakers are standing by their movie. Director Ali Abassi has said the film is "very much fact-based and fact-checked". Sebastian Stan also defended his portrayal suggesting that maybe Trump's reaction is "because the truth hurts". It sounds like they knew they were making a movie that would ruffle feathers but they believe it's an important story to tell.
Oscar Night Snubs: 'The Apprentice' Goes Home Empty-Handed But Still Creates a Buzz
Despite the Oscar buzz and nominations for Stan and Strong The Apprentice did not win any awards on Oscar night. Sebastian Stan lost Best Actor to Adrien Brody for The Brutalist and Jeremy Strong lost Best Supporting Actor to Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain.
Even without the wins The Apprentice made its mark at the Oscars just by being nominated and being the center of so much conversation. The fact that a movie this controversial even got nominated shows that the Academy recognized the power of the performances even if the film itself is sparking debates.
'Succession' Shout-Out? Kieran Culkin's Acceptance Speech and 'The Apprentice' Connection
Speaking of Kieran Culkin who won Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain there was a little bit of a Succession reunion moment during the Oscars. Culkin and Jeremy Strong both starred in the hit HBO show Succession. In his acceptance speech Culkin even gave a shout-out to Strong acknowledging his performance in The Apprentice. It was a cool nod between former castmates even though they were competing in the same category this time around.
Sebastian Stan's Take on Trump: Beyond Caricature to Find the "Real Person"
Sebastian Stan talked about the challenge of playing such a public figure like Donald Trump. He mentioned he wanted to go beyond just doing an impersonation or "caricature" that many people have done before. He really wanted to understand who Trump was in those early years.
Stan said he "had to turn off all the noise and just lock myself in a room and just try to understand who this person really was." He looked back at Trump in the 70s and 80s and saw "very interesting characteristics" and even "an idealism there as well". He wanted to capture the "showmanship" and "confidence" that drew people to Trump early on. For Stan it was about grounding the performance in something realistic and earned not just relying on easy impersonation tricks.
Key Facts About 'The Apprentice' Movie:
- Directed by Ali Abbasi
- Stars Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn
- Chronicles Trump's early career in the 1980s and his relationship with Roy Cohn
- Nominated for two Oscars: Best Actor (Sebastian Stan) and Best Supporting Actor (Jeremy Strong)
- Premiered at Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim
- Sparked controversy for its depiction of Donald Trump including a scene of alleged sexual assault
- Faced threats of legal action from Donald Trump's team
- Distributed by Briarcliff Entertainment and released in theaters in October