Donald Trump’s biopic faces hurdles: an in-depth look
In May, after the premier of the biopic “The Apprentice” at the Cannes Film Festival, I mingled with some sharp-minded film enthusiasts. We all agreed that with the right marketing strategy, the film had the potential to create a buzz. However, a few days later, I woke from that delusion. It became clear that festival fever had clouded our judgment.
The Trump fatigue factor
For the last eight years, we’ve been inundated with news and media content surrounding Donald Trump. A film exploring his early years and controversial mentorship under Roy Cohn seemed unlikely to capture a broad audience. Anti-Trump Democrats would not need such a film to validate what they already believe, while Trump supporters would undoubtedly boycott it. Plus, the idea that swing voters might be swayed by “The Apprentice” seemed more like wishful thinking from the filmmakers.
A closer look at the film’s impact
“The Apprentice” attempts to present itself as a provocative cultural statement. Yet, despite its craftsmanship, it resembles an old made-for-TV movie more than a groundbreaking documentary. As a supposed cultural firestarter, it seemed destined to be a minor tempest. However, something unprecedented unfolded around its release.
Struggles with distribution
Despite generating buzz at Cannes, “The Apprentice” struggled to find a distributor. No one wanted to touch it, especially after the Trump campaign made legal threats concerning a scene depicting sexual assault—allegations denied by Ivana Trump. This legal intimidation had a chilling effect. Distributors feared not just a lawsuit but potential recrimination if Trump won the presidency. They were scared of what he might do to them, reflecting a widespread trepidation within the industry.
Fear in the film industry
In my experience in the movie industry, fear is a common theme—fear of failure, making the wrong decision, or prioritizing art over commerce. However, the climate surrounding “The Apprentice” was unlike anything I’d seen before. People acted as if they were already living under an authoritarian regime. This trepidation was not simply an overreaction but a stark indicator of the political atmosphere at the time.
Briarcliff Entertainment steps in
Eventually, the film found a home with Briarcliff Entertainment, the company founded by the renowned Tom Ortenberg. The movie opened on 1,740 screens, a commendable effort, yet it bombed with a mere $1.58 million in ticket sales. It was a classic case of throwing a party no one attended.
Stellar performances
Sebastian Stan delivers an incredibly nuanced performance as Donald Trump. He captures Trump’s distinctive body language and charisma, reminiscent of a young Robert Redford. If you’re intrigued by Roy Cohn, the mastermind behind Trump’s early career, Jeremy Strong’s portrayal will captivate you. He embodies Cohn’s sinister aura with homicidal eyes and rapid-fire dialogue, making him the film’s standout.
Relevance in turbulent times
With the election looming and America’s fate uncertain, “The Apprentice” seems both superficially relevant and profoundly irrelevant. The film explores Trump’s unscrupulous behavior, but the real-world implications of his actions far outstrip what’s portrayed onscreen. The film’s near-shelving due to fear of political retribution is a testament to the current climate. It suggests that concerns about authoritarianism aren’t unfounded but a preview of potential future scenarios.
Though the film eventually saw the light of day, the reluctance within Hollywood to touch “The Apprentice” is telling. This hesitation wasn’t an outlier; it might very well be a grim foreshadowing of what’s to come. If nothing else, this saga underscores the pervasive atmosphere of fear and cautiousness prevalent in today’s political and cultural landscape.
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