REVIEW: THE APPRENTICE

4/5

The American Nightmare

122 Mins. Starring: Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova & Martin Donovan. Screenplay: Gabriel Sherman. Director: Ali Abbasi. In: Theatres.

If you thought 'Avengers' actor Sebastian Stan was scary when he played 'The Terminator' like Winter Soldier in the 'Captain America' super sequel (he was), then wait until you see this. The Bucky Barnes stops here. Stan is so good at playing 'A Different Man', and he is playing one like no other here, too, that the 'Pam & Tommy' T.V. nominated sensation might be the new biopic go-to star like the man that made him the White Wolf, the late, great 'Black Panther' of Chadwick Boseman, was. As a matter of fact, the only person the man with a metal arm, and plenty of mettle too, has to go against is himself. As 'A Different Man' and 'The Apprentice' here may battle it out for 'Best Actor' Oscar at the forthcoming Academy Awards. Although our money is on 'A Different Man' towering to the top here, like his character leaning against the Empire State Building on this apprentice's poster (check out the gaudy ceramic one full of gold glitz that's missing a few carats, too).

Actually, the only other person the 'I, Tonya' and forthcoming 'Thunderbolts*' star has to go up against is the next President of the United States. 'The Apprentice' finally finding a home here in Japan on the weekend before the orange man's inauguration, with plenty filling the seats for this man that courts controversy every time he unlocks his phone, or purses his lips. This is the movie Donald Trump doesn't want you to see. Wishing he could shout his signature "You're fired" to Stan as much as he wishes he could avoid court, or Monopoly jail. Yet this is Sebastian's trump card. If you thought George 'W'. didn't like Josh Brolin giving the Bush presidency the Thanos fingers, then wait until you see this. Becoming, like Obama, an accomplished actor in a couple of calendar months, although people shouldn't sleep on Sebastian Stan's haunting, lonesome take on The Winter Soldier, lost in violence and raw regret (the type Trump is a stranger too, so who's the real villain here?), Stan morphs into Trump (consuming Coca-Cola and PB&J sandwiches), all the way down to the duck pout and Etch A Sketch hand gestures.

Fixing his "hair" more times than...well, admittedly, me, Stan gets to the roots and paunch of the problem Trump has become with more than just his captured look. Even though the one creeping down the staircase to his future wife was as predatory as they come. Stan shows Trump as the man that he is, without bias, plain and simple, even if I am trying my best to remove mine here (this is a movie review after all, not a hatchet piece). That mark of a great actor, Sebastian captures his character perfectly. Trump's actions speak for themselves. And although the amazing Ali Abbasi's ('Shelley', 'Border' and the last two episodes of 'The Last Of Us') 'Apprentice' (scripted by Vanity Fair writer Gabriel Sherman) is Reganomics era stylish (is that Andy Warhol?! Liberace?!), it's no celebration of this GQ cover bad boy turned troubling tyrant, like Scorsese's incredible, albeit ignorant, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'. This wolf in Wall Street clothing runs Republican red, with the sins of the devil red cap to match. Stealing Regan's slogan and turning it into MAGA. When America was great before and hopefully will be again, with change. 

If Stan deserves to meet Oscar, then the great character actor, turned pro, Jeremy Strong deserves at least an introduction. The 'Succession' star playing the man that made Trump, late attorney Roy Cohn, with note perfect speech and stare. Like a shark, slowly lumbering towards its prey with stunted, but sure thing trajectory and accuracy. Strong arming this road, and lead, much like a 'Limitless' De Niro to Bradley Cooper before the tables turn, Jeremy has been doing this for years. 'The Big Short', 'Molly's Game', 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7', and of course, the HBO show. He even played Lee Harvey Oswald in 'Parkland' for crying out loud. Yet here, he offers even more depth to the darkness, especially when Cohn succumbs to AIDS with terrifying 'Angels In America' (previously played by Pacino) consequences of guilt and too little, but too late stakes at redemption. That's what makes his part, just as important as Sebastian's. Not to mention, a mesmerizing Maria Bakalova ('Women Do Cry', 'Bodies Bodies Bodies') as Ivana Trump, played perfectly with sympathy, and the great Martin Donovan ('Insomnia', 'Tenet') as father Fred Trump. Trump's team tried to block this film, they believed it would harm his Presidential campaign. Neither thing happened, but what's clear to see here is that any harm that's being done is by the man himself. He may put his hand on the Bible to get sworn in with a promise to do better, but like all of us, he still has to answer to God. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'A Different Man', 'Pam & Tommy', 'W.'