Sebastian Stan, who played a young Donald Trump in the movie, recently made headlines at its UK premiere with frank comments regarding the former president. Now, with increased political tension as the 2024 U.S. presidential election is drawing near, Stan has spoken about the reasons why he believes Trump should be “grateful” for the way the film portrayed him.
The context of the movie, “The Apprentice”
The Apprentice, is a biopic that probes Trump’s younger years as an up-and-coming real estate magnate in New York City, particularly his tumultuous bond with controversy-marred lawyer Roy Cohn. By director Ali Abbasi, the film was made to nuances in charting Trump’s journey to power by investigating influences that shaped his persona and political philosophy. The film has elicited mixed reactions, with some praising its depth and others chiding it as overly sympathetic.
Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Trump is important in that it captures not only his public persona but also the private struggles and the moral ambiguities that define him. Such a multi-dimensional rendering is what Stan believes Trump should appreciate, as this provides far more depth into the character of Trump.
Stan’s critique of Trump
At the film’s premiere, Stan was asked several times about Trump’s reaction to the movie-which he’s called a “fake and classless” portrayal. Stan referred to Trump as “hypocritical,” implying that the former president’s criticisms come from a place of not knowing the intent behind the film. He made clear the intent of The Apprentice was to push viewers to dig deeper for meaning into complex figures such as Trump.
Stan said, “Honestly, I think Trump should be grateful. We’ve given him, in essence, a multidimensional, round view of his life.” This reflects Stan’s feeling that the film does not demonize Trump, but rather allows him to look back and consider how he came to be the man that he is today.
The artistic challenge
Obviously, any film with a character like Donald Trump presents special challenges for filmmakers and actors alike. Stan was indeed quite apprehensive when taking up this iconic role, considering how people have very strong views regarding Trump. Speaking to Abbasi, he said it really put his mind at ease that he would delve deeper into what made Trump act or decide on things.
This documentary tries to humanize Trump while bringing to light the rather dark aspects of his character. It has been noted by several critics that, in trying to be balanced, it raises questions on where sympathy ends and accountability begins.
The impact on voter sentiment
As the 2024 election approaches, The Apprentice is likely to change the popular opinion of voters. Stan is not certain if the documentary will really have much impact on opinion but does hope that it leads viewers to reflect much more deeply on how they actually think about political candidates. It is well-timed; what the voters need now is a more meaningful understanding of candidates beyond the simplistic narratives.
Stan’s portrayal has been said to be both disconcerting and engaging as he perfectly captures the transformation of Trump from a young businessman to a media-savvy politician. That is very important for the younger audience, who may know of Trump only through controversies later in his life.
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