“That looked exactly like Trump”: Fans react to convincing Trump portrayal in The Apprentice movie

Rajan
Clip from The Apprentice
Clip from The Apprentice (Image via Briarcliff Entertainment)

The Apprentice is a biographical drama that revisits Donald Trump’s rise to power in New York’s real estate industry during the 1970s and 1980s. The movie also shows Trump's tense relationship with the notorious lawyer Roy Cohn. The 2024 movie, directed by Ali Abbasi, has a great cast.

Sebastian Stan plays Trump, while Jeremy Strong plays Cohn. Since it came out, the movie has gotten a lot of attention, especially for how it looks at Trump's personal and professional life.

Fans who watched The Apprentice were impressed by how well Trump was portrayed. People responded at how much Sebastian Stan's portrayal of Trump resembled the real person. A lot of people, mostly on Reddit, shared their thoughts on Stan's performance on social media.

“That looked exactly like Trump” flooded discussion threads," one posted.
Comment byu/LiteraryBoner from discussion inmovies

That highlights the powerful impact of Stan’s transformation into the iconic businessman-turned-president.

One of the standout aspects of The Apprentice is the performance of Sebastian Stan. As fans have pointed out, his portrayal of Trump is both subtle and striking. They marveled at the actor’s ability to capture Trump’s mannerisms, with many praising Stan's evolution of "Trumpisms" throughout the film.

One fan commented:

“Stan's Trump impression is surprisingly subtle”

Another replied:

“I was really impressed with Sebastian Stan's performance”

These comments reflect how audiences were captivated by Stan's performance. It truly was a role that left many in awe.

From the moment The Apprentice hit the big screens, the internet lit up with fans sharing their reactions. Reddit was filled with comments about Stan’s portrayal of Trump.

One user exclaimed:

"I just got totally immersed in his Trump,"

Other fans are equally impressed with the way he embodied the former president’s personality.

“I found Sebastian Stan perfectly fine as Trump,” one wrote

Another Reddit user remarked on how Stan’s performance added depth to Trump and Cohn, saying:

"It makes Trump and Cohn too sympathetic to be a hit piece."

One of the most common points of discussion was how Stan evolved his portrayal of Trump throughout the movie as one fan observed:

"Stan’s evolution of the Trumpisms being the most interesting thing in the movie to me."

It wasn't just an imitation of Trump but a layered performance that showed both the public and private sides of his personality. For many, the subtlety of Stan's performance was the real hook.

Others echoed similar sentiments, praising the actor’s ability to capture Trump’s essence.

“The great thing about this movie is the performances, Jeremy Strong as Cohn in the first half and Sebastian Stan as Trump in the second half,” one fan shared.

They also added:

"The way Stan portrayed the transformation of insecure/awkward Trump to the person we know today was done so well. He really tapped into Trump’s mannerisms towards the end."

The plot of The Apprentice

The Apprentice centers on Donald Trump’s rise in the cutthroat world of New York's real estate, starting in the 1970s. The film begins with Trump meeting Roy Cohn, the controversial lawyer who becomes a mentor figure.

Cohn helps Trump navigate legal issues while also teaching him how to manipulate the media and always come out on top. As Trump climbs the business ladder, he transforms run-down properties into luxury spaces, including the Commodore Hotel and Trump Tower.

The movie also shows Trump's personal life. In-depth looks are given to his tense relationship with his father Fred, the sad story of his brother Fred Jr., and his troubled marriage with Ivana Trump. At its core, The Apprentice shows Trump as someone who will do anything to win, even if it means putting his morals and relationships at risk.

The main focus of the movie is on Trump's interactions with Cohn. Never admit wrongdoing, always attack and claim victory even when you've lost are Cohn's three rules that Trump is shown to base his business philosophy on.

The movie also shows Trump's fear of failing, his health problems and his fixation on appearance, which led to his famous surgery to reduce the size of his head. These different parts of his personality make up a complicated picture of the man who would become President of the United States.

Stan’s performance wasn't the only thing that left viewers talking. The film’s balanced portrayal of Trump and Cohn, as one fan noted, made the

“too sympathetic to be a hit piece.”

This comment sparked discussions on whether the film intended to humanize its controversial characters or simply reflect their complexities. Either way, the film’s depiction of these larger-than-life figures struck a chord with audiences.


How The Apprentice brings Trump’s story to life

One of the best things about the movie is that it shows Trump's rise without making his actions look cool. Instead, The Apprentice shows a man who did whatever he could to get what he wanted, whether it was legal, moral or otherwise.

The movie shows how Trump's relationship with Cohn was especially interesting because it shows how Cohn's ways helped Trump become the businessman he would eventually become.

As the movie goes on, it becomes clear that Trump's drive costs him something. His personal relationships exacerbated, and people questioned his morals. The movie shows Trump's questionable actions, especially in building Trump Tower and his real estate deals in Atlantic City. These scenes are based on the problems and criticisms he faced in real life as he became famous.

The Apprentice is an interesting look at Donald Trump's rise from a young businessman to a famous person whose impact went far beyond New York City. People have been captivated by Sebastian Stan's portrayal of Trump.

With a great cast and deft narrative, The Apprentice presents one of the most divisive figures in modern history in a thoughtful and sophisticated manner. Anyone who wants to know what preceded Donald Trump's ascent to prominence should see the film, as it's so and pays great attention to detail.

Quick Links

Edited by Bhargav
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications