The Apprentice Review: This Donald Trump biopic starring Sebastian Stan is worth the hype. With the latest in a long line of high-profile biopics and adaptations hitting our screens, it was only a matter of time before someone took a stab at bringing the life and times of the 45th President of the United States to life in a major motion picture. That someone is of course none other than esteemed director and writer, aiming to shed new light on the enigmatic figure that is Donald Trump.
Here he is played by none other than the hugely talented Sebastian Stan, known primarily for his role in the hit Marvel Cinematic Universe as Bucky Barnes. Stan has said on several occasions in interviews that playing the role of Trump was a wild departure from his usual typecast as an avenger and that was nothing short of liberating for him as a thespian. And play him he does, bringing the signature confidence and charisma of Trump to life with real aplomb.
This makes it all the more intriguing that despite the star-studded billing, including the likes of Samantha Mathis and Alec Baldwin, the real scene-stealer throughout the picture is a lesser-known name, the irrepressible Jeremy Strong. Maybe because he is still fresh off the success of his breathtaking turn as Kendall Roy on HBO hit Succession or maybe just because he has always been more comfortable than most to walk that delicate tightrope between reality and make-believe.
Whatever it is, one thing is unmistakably clear - it is Strong who breathes new life into this entire production with his uncanny imitations of Trump sycophants and ultimately very convincing portrayal of the late Roger Ailes, an instrumental figure in shaping the trajectory of Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.