Sean Baker’s “Anora” has won the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, a jury headed by Greta Gerwig announced on Saturday.
The win for Baker’s freewheeling film about a stripper and the son of a Russian oligarch becomes the fifth consecutive Palme winner to be distributed by Neon, which previously handled “Anatomy of a Fall,” “The Triangle of Sadness,” “Titane” and “Parasite.”
TheWrap’s review said of the film, “It’s one of the most entertaining movies to play in Cannes this year, and also one of the most confounding: part character study of the title character (Mikey Madison), a sex worker from Brighton Beach who falls for rich Russian playboy Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn); part look into the world of the super-rich, an arena Baker has studiously avoided in films like ‘Tangerine,’ ‘The Florida Project’ and ‘Red Rocket’; part escalating nightmare comedy reminiscent of ’80s gems...
The win for Baker’s freewheeling film about a stripper and the son of a Russian oligarch becomes the fifth consecutive Palme winner to be distributed by Neon, which previously handled “Anatomy of a Fall,” “The Triangle of Sadness,” “Titane” and “Parasite.”
TheWrap’s review said of the film, “It’s one of the most entertaining movies to play in Cannes this year, and also one of the most confounding: part character study of the title character (Mikey Madison), a sex worker from Brighton Beach who falls for rich Russian playboy Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn); part look into the world of the super-rich, an arena Baker has studiously avoided in films like ‘Tangerine,’ ‘The Florida Project’ and ‘Red Rocket’; part escalating nightmare comedy reminiscent of ’80s gems...
- 5/25/2024
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
After two weeks of non-stop cinema, the moment of truth finally arrived. The winners of the 77th Cannes Film Festival were announced at a gala ceremony on Saturday night.
The Palme d’Or, the fest’s top honor, went to Sean Baker’s sex worker comedy Anora. A nervous and shaking Baker took the stage and thanked the jury, saying he still “couldn’t believe it.” Baker said winning Cannes’ top prize has been “my singular goal as a filmmaker for the past 30 years.”
Baker also singled out Francis Ford Coppola and David Cronenberg, two veteran directors with films in Cannes competition this year, as major inspirations. Baker has come far, going from shooting his 2015 debut Tangerine an iPhone4 to winning the Palme d’Or. He is the first American director to win the Palme since Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life in 2011.
Commenting on the jury’s decision,...
The Palme d’Or, the fest’s top honor, went to Sean Baker’s sex worker comedy Anora. A nervous and shaking Baker took the stage and thanked the jury, saying he still “couldn’t believe it.” Baker said winning Cannes’ top prize has been “my singular goal as a filmmaker for the past 30 years.”
Baker also singled out Francis Ford Coppola and David Cronenberg, two veteran directors with films in Cannes competition this year, as major inspirations. Baker has come far, going from shooting his 2015 debut Tangerine an iPhone4 to winning the Palme d’Or. He is the first American director to win the Palme since Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life in 2011.
Commenting on the jury’s decision,...
- 5/25/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Producers of Cannes competition entry The Apprentice have said the film is “a fair and balanced portrait” of Donald Trump after after getting a cease and desist letter from lawyers for the former US president.
The letter, first reported by Variety and apparently geared towards blocking a US release of the biographical drama, comes a few days after Trump’s presidential election campaign threatened legal action against the filmmakers.
Producers of the film, directed by Ali Abbasi, responded to the cease and desist letter on Friday (May 24) with a statement that said: “The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president.
The letter, first reported by Variety and apparently geared towards blocking a US release of the biographical drama, comes a few days after Trump’s presidential election campaign threatened legal action against the filmmakers.
Producers of the film, directed by Ali Abbasi, responded to the cease and desist letter on Friday (May 24) with a statement that said: “The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president.
- 5/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Lawyers for Donald Trump have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the producers of the biopic The Apprentice in an effort to prevent the sale and distribution of the film.
After the movie — which stars Sebastian Stan as the then-young real estate scion alongside Jeremy Strong as infamous Trump lawyer Roy Cohn — debuted earlier this week at the Cannes Film Festival, Team Trump threatened to file a lawsuit against The Apprentice for its unsavory and “pure fiction” portrayal of the mogul-turned-president.
With the film festival wrapping up and producers looking at distribution deals,...
After the movie — which stars Sebastian Stan as the then-young real estate scion alongside Jeremy Strong as infamous Trump lawyer Roy Cohn — debuted earlier this week at the Cannes Film Festival, Team Trump threatened to file a lawsuit against The Apprentice for its unsavory and “pure fiction” portrayal of the mogul-turned-president.
With the film festival wrapping up and producers looking at distribution deals,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Donald Trump’s lawyers are attempting to head off a U.S. sale of The Apprentice coming out of Cannes by slapping the filmmakers with a cease and desist letter, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Still, the filmmakers behind the Trump movie look like they will not be swayed from seeking distribution for the movie stateside. “The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide,” a representative for the film’s producers said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.
The legal move by Trump’s legal team follows director Ali Abbasi’s movie receiving a Cannes world premiere, and an eight-minute standing ovation, earlier this week.
Abbasi has already shrugged off a threat from Trump’fs presidential campaign to bring a lawsuit against the project. “Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people...
Still, the filmmakers behind the Trump movie look like they will not be swayed from seeking distribution for the movie stateside. “The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide,” a representative for the film’s producers said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.
The legal move by Trump’s legal team follows director Ali Abbasi’s movie receiving a Cannes world premiere, and an eight-minute standing ovation, earlier this week.
Abbasi has already shrugged off a threat from Trump’fs presidential campaign to bring a lawsuit against the project. “Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people...
- 5/24/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Donald Trump’s campaign said earlier this week they would take legal action against the filmmakers behind Cannes hit The Apprentice, and now the former Celebrity Apprentice host’s team has made their first jab.
As the Ali Abbasi-directed film seeks a distribution deal to get on U.S. screens, lawyers for the former president have sent an adjective filled cease and desist letter to the producers to stop The Apprentice being seen by anyone Stateside.
“The Movie presents itself as a factual biography of Mr. Trump, yet nothing could be further from the truth,” the May 22 letter to Abbasi and screenwriter Gabriel Sherman states.
“It is a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in America’s elections,” the three-page correspondence adds, with a...
As the Ali Abbasi-directed film seeks a distribution deal to get on U.S. screens, lawyers for the former president have sent an adjective filled cease and desist letter to the producers to stop The Apprentice being seen by anyone Stateside.
“The Movie presents itself as a factual biography of Mr. Trump, yet nothing could be further from the truth,” the May 22 letter to Abbasi and screenwriter Gabriel Sherman states.
“It is a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in America’s elections,” the three-page correspondence adds, with a...
- 5/24/2024
- by Dominic Patten and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Bella Hadid joined The Hollywood Reporter for an exclusive photoshoot before the Beating Hearts premiere at Cannes.
The 27-year-old looked stunning in a Versace ensemble with Chopard Haute Joaillerie pieces. Hadid opted for a glimmering archival look, wearing a black halter-neck Atelier Versace gown from the Spring-Summer 2001 collection. The dress was crafted using layered silk tulle for the cinched bustier top that seamlessly shifted into a floor-length skirt embroidered with paillettes.
Bella Hadid attends the Beating Hearts Red Carpet in Versace and Chopard.
The model decided to forgo a necklace, instead drawing focus to her elegant 18-carat white gold earrings that feature 24.12 carats of diamonds. Rounding out her Chopard look were two 18-carat white gold diamond-adorned rings — one with a cushion-shaped spinel and another which with an oval-shaped diamond.
Hadid, the founder of the newly launched fragrance line Orebella, recently opened up about her decision to take a step back from modeling.
The 27-year-old looked stunning in a Versace ensemble with Chopard Haute Joaillerie pieces. Hadid opted for a glimmering archival look, wearing a black halter-neck Atelier Versace gown from the Spring-Summer 2001 collection. The dress was crafted using layered silk tulle for the cinched bustier top that seamlessly shifted into a floor-length skirt embroidered with paillettes.
Bella Hadid attends the Beating Hearts Red Carpet in Versace and Chopard.
The model decided to forgo a necklace, instead drawing focus to her elegant 18-carat white gold earrings that feature 24.12 carats of diamonds. Rounding out her Chopard look were two 18-carat white gold diamond-adorned rings — one with a cushion-shaped spinel and another which with an oval-shaped diamond.
Hadid, the founder of the newly launched fragrance line Orebella, recently opened up about her decision to take a step back from modeling.
- 5/24/2024
- by Nicole Fell
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Attorneys for Donald Trump have sent a cease and desist letter to the filmmakers behind “The Apprentice” in an effort to block its U.S. sale and release. It warns the team behind the film not to pursue a distribution deal, according to two people who have read the letter. “The Apprentice,” which looks at Trump’s early years as a real estate developer and his relationship with Roy Cohn, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this week.
“The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president,” the producers of the film said in a statement regarding the cease-and-desist letter. “We want everyone to see it and then decide.”
The movie, which was independently produced, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn. It presents a damning portrait of the former president as an ethically compromised, philanderer who stiffs contractors and cuts deals with the...
“The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president,” the producers of the film said in a statement regarding the cease-and-desist letter. “We want everyone to see it and then decide.”
The movie, which was independently produced, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn. It presents a damning portrait of the former president as an ethically compromised, philanderer who stiffs contractors and cuts deals with the...
- 5/24/2024
- by Brent Lang and Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” Mohammad Rasoulof’s latest film that he received an eight-year prison sentence from Iranian authorities for making, earned a rapturous 12-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere on Friday. Rasoulof risked his life by appearing at the premiere as he fled Iran for Europe on May 13 to avoid going to prison.
There was undeniable applause as the film’s credits began to roll (though it is Variety‘s policy to begin timing the standing ovation once the house lights come up), with Rasoulof getting teary and waving enthusiastically to the balcony. Ali Abbasi, the director of fellow competition title “The Apprentice,” stood next to Rasoulof and encouraged the crowd to keep clapping — not that they needed it, as their cheers just seemed to get louder and louder. There was even a sign in the audience reading “Femme! Vie! Liberté!” (“Woman! Life! Freedom!
There was undeniable applause as the film’s credits began to roll (though it is Variety‘s policy to begin timing the standing ovation once the house lights come up), with Rasoulof getting teary and waving enthusiastically to the balcony. Ali Abbasi, the director of fellow competition title “The Apprentice,” stood next to Rasoulof and encouraged the crowd to keep clapping — not that they needed it, as their cheers just seemed to get louder and louder. There was even a sign in the audience reading “Femme! Vie! Liberté!” (“Woman! Life! Freedom!
- 5/24/2024
- by Ramin Setoodeh and Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Cannes Film Festival 2024: Read All Of Deadline’s Movie Reviews, Including Palme d’Or Winner ‘Anora’
Read all of Deadline’s Cannes Film Festival reviews below, including Palme d’Or winner Anora.
The New York-set romantic dramedy charts the story of a stripper from Brooklyn who transforms into a modern Cinderella when she meets the son of a Russian oligarch.
The film, playing in the official Competition three years after Baker’s success in Cannes with the Simon Rex-starring Red Rocket, scored a 10-minute ovation earlier this week. It was one of a number of critically praised films this edition. Check out all our reviews below.
Anora ‘Anora’
Section: Competition
Director: Sean Baker
Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan
Deadline’s takeaway: Sean Baker is no stranger to comedy, and Anora is his broadest to date. The nudity doubtless will be controversial, but it will be especially interesting to see what audiences make of the film’s heartbreaking ending — a...
The New York-set romantic dramedy charts the story of a stripper from Brooklyn who transforms into a modern Cinderella when she meets the son of a Russian oligarch.
The film, playing in the official Competition three years after Baker’s success in Cannes with the Simon Rex-starring Red Rocket, scored a 10-minute ovation earlier this week. It was one of a number of critically praised films this edition. Check out all our reviews below.
Anora ‘Anora’
Section: Competition
Director: Sean Baker
Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan
Deadline’s takeaway: Sean Baker is no stranger to comedy, and Anora is his broadest to date. The nudity doubtless will be controversial, but it will be especially interesting to see what audiences make of the film’s heartbreaking ending — a...
- 5/24/2024
- by Pete Hammond, Joe Utichi, Damon Wise, Stephanie Bunbury and Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Editors note: Running until the final general election results come in, the Deadline ElectionLine podcast spotlights the 2024 campaign and the blurred lines between politics and entertainment in modern America. Hosted by Deadline’s political editor Ted Johnson and executive editor Dominic Patten, the podcast features commentary and interviews with top lawmakers and entertainment figures. At the same time, you can follow all the news in the Biden & Trump rematch and more on the ElectionLine hub on Deadline.
“What surprised me is how good it is,” says Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro of the Cannes-debuting Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. “You know, there are some people that have tried to ding it and say, ‘Oh, it’s an HBO movie,’” Deadline’s editorial director states from the South of France on today’s ElectionLine podcast. “But let me say this: it’s a very good HBO movie.”
“I just think it’s very well crafted.
“What surprised me is how good it is,” says Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro of the Cannes-debuting Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. “You know, there are some people that have tried to ding it and say, ‘Oh, it’s an HBO movie,’” Deadline’s editorial director states from the South of France on today’s ElectionLine podcast. “But let me say this: it’s a very good HBO movie.”
“I just think it’s very well crafted.
- 5/24/2024
- by Dominic Patten and Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival witnessed a dazzling display of glamour as supermodel Candice Swanepoel graced the red carpet for the premiere of The Apprentice.
The South African beauty turned heads at the Palais des Festivals in a plunging-neckline gown by Vivienne Westwood with intricate floral embroidery accents. She accessorized her glam look with a statement necklace from Messika.
As cameras flashed and fans clamored for a glimpse of the renowned model, Swanepoel confidently walked the red carpet. She graciously interacted with her enthusiastic fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs.
The Apprentice, a highly anticipated film directed by Ali Abbasi, explores the early career of Donald Trump and includes a rape scene. The former president has already threatened to sue the film’s producers.
The red carpet appearance marked Swanepoel’s return to the Cannes Film Festival after a two-year hiatus. Swanepoel has become an icon in the...
The South African beauty turned heads at the Palais des Festivals in a plunging-neckline gown by Vivienne Westwood with intricate floral embroidery accents. She accessorized her glam look with a statement necklace from Messika.
As cameras flashed and fans clamored for a glimpse of the renowned model, Swanepoel confidently walked the red carpet. She graciously interacted with her enthusiastic fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs.
The Apprentice, a highly anticipated film directed by Ali Abbasi, explores the early career of Donald Trump and includes a rape scene. The former president has already threatened to sue the film’s producers.
The red carpet appearance marked Swanepoel’s return to the Cannes Film Festival after a two-year hiatus. Swanepoel has become an icon in the...
- 5/24/2024
- by Lauren Ramsey
- Uinterview
A scene depicting a rape by former President Donald Trump in a biopic, The Apprentice, inspired controversy during its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
In the movie, which premiered at Cannes on Monday night, Ivana Trump (Maria Bakalova) shows a young Trump (Sebastian Stan) a book about the female orgasm. In the scene, the former president tells his late ex-wife he is not attracted to her. He then throws her on the ground and angrily penetrates her as she asks him to stop.
“Is that your G-spot,” he asked her while sexually assaulting her. “Did I find it?” The scene inspired gasps from the audience. Ivana accused Trump of rape in a divorce deposition back in 1990. He denied the allegation, and his wife later said the incident had left her feeling “violated” but not raped “in a literal or criminal sense.”
Trump was accused by 23 women of various acts of sexual misconduct,...
In the movie, which premiered at Cannes on Monday night, Ivana Trump (Maria Bakalova) shows a young Trump (Sebastian Stan) a book about the female orgasm. In the scene, the former president tells his late ex-wife he is not attracted to her. He then throws her on the ground and angrily penetrates her as she asks him to stop.
“Is that your G-spot,” he asked her while sexually assaulting her. “Did I find it?” The scene inspired gasps from the audience. Ivana accused Trump of rape in a divorce deposition back in 1990. He denied the allegation, and his wife later said the incident had left her feeling “violated” but not raped “in a literal or criminal sense.”
Trump was accused by 23 women of various acts of sexual misconduct,...
- 5/23/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSThe Little Mermaid.A generative AI start-up has been accused of stealing the voices of actors for its subscription service.IATSE expects to schedule additional days of bargaining with AMPTP in June, but has vowed not to extend its contract past July 31.With Incaa defunded by Argentine president Javier Milei, Ventana Sur is in talks to relocate from Buenos Aires to Uruguay for its sixteenth edition.As the Italian film industry continues to wait on a divided government to make production tax credits available, anticipating modest cuts, a new law in the Czech Parliament would more than double the existing cap on their incentives. Meanwhile, industry insiders in Poland urge a newly elected government to increase their rebate...
- 5/22/2024
- MUBI
Maria Bakalova doesn't consider 'The Apprentice' to be a Donald Trump "biopic".The 27-year-old actress plays the former US president's first wife Ivana Trump in the movie about his business career during the 1970s and 80s and insists that Ali Abbasi's film is about more than just the controversial politician - who is portrayed by Sebastian Stan in the flick.Maria told Deadline's Breaking Baz column at the Cannes Film Festival: "This is not a biopic. I don't see this as a biopic, because not every single detail of Trump's life exists in this movie."And I don't want to say this is a Trump movie. I think this is a bigger movie than just focused on one person that is not completely the same story. And it's inspired by him, but it's not a biopic for me."'The Apprentice' implies that Ivana, who died...
- 5/22/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Trump has spoken out against The Apprentice, but he’s not the first celebrity to attack an unflattering big-screen portrait
More than any film at this year’s Cannes film festival – more than Megalopolis or that film where Demi Moore pushes Margaret Qualley’s face out of her spine – Ali Abbasi’s new film The Apprentice has dominated the news cycle.
This is because The Apprentice is a Donald Trump biopic, and one that has aggressively chosen not to pull a single punch. Played by Sebastian Stan, the Trump of The Apprentice is seen receiving liposuction and hair transplants, and more seriously, raping his wife Ivana. Although reaction has been mixed – Peter Bradshaw called the film “obtuse and irrelevant” in his two-star review this week – it may yet prove to cause damage to Trump’s election chances this year.
More than any film at this year’s Cannes film festival – more than Megalopolis or that film where Demi Moore pushes Margaret Qualley’s face out of her spine – Ali Abbasi’s new film The Apprentice has dominated the news cycle.
This is because The Apprentice is a Donald Trump biopic, and one that has aggressively chosen not to pull a single punch. Played by Sebastian Stan, the Trump of The Apprentice is seen receiving liposuction and hair transplants, and more seriously, raping his wife Ivana. Although reaction has been mixed – Peter Bradshaw called the film “obtuse and irrelevant” in his two-star review this week – it may yet prove to cause damage to Trump’s election chances this year.
- 5/22/2024
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
Making it three features in a row that’ll have premiered on the Croisette, Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi saw his sophomore feature Border play like gangbusters in the Un Certain Regard section (winning the top prize via the Benicio Del Toro-led jury). Four years later in 2022, he presented Holy Spider (read review) and that won Zar Amir Ebrahimi the Best Actress Palme. The film scored an average of 3.0 with our jury. Jumping into production in late 2023 in Toronto, The Apprentice features Silver Bear Winner Sebastian Stan plays a younger Donald Trump in this piece of satire.
Gist: Written by Gabe Sherman, taking place in 70s and 80s NYC, this charts a young Donald Trump’s ascent to power through a Faustian deal with the influential right-wing lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn.…...
Gist: Written by Gabe Sherman, taking place in 70s and 80s NYC, this charts a young Donald Trump’s ascent to power through a Faustian deal with the influential right-wing lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn.…...
- 5/22/2024
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: Dahlings, Oscar-nominated Maria Bakalova is channeling an essence of Ivana Trump, who she praises as a “boss lady,” when we meet on a terrace at the Palais to natter about her slyly sublime portrait of Donald Trump’s first wife in filmmaker Ali Abbasi’s Cannes hit The Apprentice.
Bulgarian-born Bakalova plays Czechoslovakian-American Ivana Trump opposite Romanian-born Sebstian Stan’s astute portrayal of Donald Trump.
They married in 1977 when, perhaps, excess and bad taste weren’t as frowned upon it is today.
Bakalova is wearing a bespoke navy blue short-sleeved jacket with white cuffs that match a white skirt created for her by London-based Han Chong’s Self-Portrait label.
“Yes, it was made as an inspiration for Ivana,” says Bakalova, “because we didn’t want it to be exactly the same, but a nod to Ivana, like a power dressing, power style.”
Ivana Trump at the 1988 Council of Fashion...
Bulgarian-born Bakalova plays Czechoslovakian-American Ivana Trump opposite Romanian-born Sebstian Stan’s astute portrayal of Donald Trump.
They married in 1977 when, perhaps, excess and bad taste weren’t as frowned upon it is today.
Bakalova is wearing a bespoke navy blue short-sleeved jacket with white cuffs that match a white skirt created for her by London-based Han Chong’s Self-Portrait label.
“Yes, it was made as an inspiration for Ivana,” says Bakalova, “because we didn’t want it to be exactly the same, but a nod to Ivana, like a power dressing, power style.”
Ivana Trump at the 1988 Council of Fashion...
- 5/21/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
For a biopic about Donald Trump, The Apprentice is surprisingly concerned with other things. The film has exactly what you might expect and somehow a curiosity around every corner, a familiar historical intrigue firmly planted in a tonal shock. The shock comes from its subtlety and perspective, the latter of which has a unique bent for a film about an ex-President debuting in an election year that spotlights his third campaign.
As you can imagine, there’s no shortage of American directors looking to cinematically take down Trump. But, for now, none of them get to. At least not as blatantly as Ali Abbasi, the international director who won the job to tell the story of the debased mogul from the early ’70s to the mid-80s.
The Apprentice––aptly named after both the reality TV show Trump (Sebastian Stan) created and young Trump’s relationship with Roy Cohn––marks...
As you can imagine, there’s no shortage of American directors looking to cinematically take down Trump. But, for now, none of them get to. At least not as blatantly as Ali Abbasi, the international director who won the job to tell the story of the debased mogul from the early ’70s to the mid-80s.
The Apprentice––aptly named after both the reality TV show Trump (Sebastian Stan) created and young Trump’s relationship with Roy Cohn––marks...
- 5/21/2024
- by Luke Hicks
- The Film Stage
The first reviews for Donald Trump movie The Apprentice are in, following its world premiere at Cannes.
Directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman, the film follows Sebastian Stan’s Trump during his rise to power in 1980s America, as he’s mentored by firebrand right-wing attorney Roy Cohn, played by Succession star Jeremy Strong.
The cast also includes Borat Subsequent Moviefilm star Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Martin Donavan as the former president’s father Fred Trump Sr.
The movie, which currently doesn’t have a U.S. distributor, holds a 69 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of Tuesday.
Though the Trump campaign has threatened to sue over the film, Abbasi offered to screen the movie for the former president and talk about it with him, saying, “I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike.”
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people,...
Directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman, the film follows Sebastian Stan’s Trump during his rise to power in 1980s America, as he’s mentored by firebrand right-wing attorney Roy Cohn, played by Succession star Jeremy Strong.
The cast also includes Borat Subsequent Moviefilm star Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Martin Donavan as the former president’s father Fred Trump Sr.
The movie, which currently doesn’t have a U.S. distributor, holds a 69 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of Tuesday.
Though the Trump campaign has threatened to sue over the film, Abbasi offered to screen the movie for the former president and talk about it with him, saying, “I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike.”
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Tatiana Tenreyro
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IndieWire has published its Cannes 2024 Cinematography Survey. We analyzed the data to explore (again and again) that the nine-year-old camera, Arri Alexa Mini, is the most popular camera among Cannes filmmakers. Furthermore, interestingly, in its first appearance on the Cannes Cinematography Chart and jumped straight to second place, is the Arri 35.
The main cameras of Cannes 2024 are the Arri Alexa Mini and the 35. Cannes 2024 cinematography
The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival is taking place from 14 to 25 May 2024. IndieWire has reached out to the filmmakers behind 59 films screened in various categories in the festival. The DPs elaborated on the tools they utilized to tell their stories. Read the entire survey here.
Official poster of the 77th Cannes Film Festival featuring a still image from the movie Rhapsody in August by Akira Kurosawa (1991)
As the tradition calls, we took the data and filtered it to the cameras used, to explore tendency. Based on the info,...
The main cameras of Cannes 2024 are the Arri Alexa Mini and the 35. Cannes 2024 cinematography
The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival is taking place from 14 to 25 May 2024. IndieWire has reached out to the filmmakers behind 59 films screened in various categories in the festival. The DPs elaborated on the tools they utilized to tell their stories. Read the entire survey here.
Official poster of the 77th Cannes Film Festival featuring a still image from the movie Rhapsody in August by Akira Kurosawa (1991)
As the tradition calls, we took the data and filtered it to the cameras used, to explore tendency. Based on the info,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Yossy Mendelovich
- YMCinema
Ali Abbasi’s film The Apprentice premiered at Cannes Film Festival on Monday evening and no sooner than the run time could reach its conclusion was the Trump Campaign already threatening to file a lawsuit. In response, Abbasi is extending the offer for Donald Trump to see the film for himself and draw his own conclusions, confident that the ex-president would be “surprised.”
“I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi shared in response to the threat of legal action, according to Variety. “I...
“I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi shared in response to the threat of legal action, according to Variety. “I...
- 5/21/2024
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice has failed to impress the critics on Screen’s Cannes jury grid, recording the lowest score so far this year of 1.7.
The film tells Donald Trump’s origin story, with Sebastian Stan playing the future president and Jeremy Strong his ruthless lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn.
It earned eight scores of two (average), plus two ones (poor) and a zero (bad) from Mathieu Macharet at France’s Le Monde.
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
With a 1.7, it is just below Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada, which previously occupied the...
The film tells Donald Trump’s origin story, with Sebastian Stan playing the future president and Jeremy Strong his ruthless lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn.
It earned eight scores of two (average), plus two ones (poor) and a zero (bad) from Mathieu Macharet at France’s Le Monde.
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
With a 1.7, it is just below Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada, which previously occupied the...
- 5/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is threatening legal action against The Apprentice, a new film from director Ali Abbasi charting Trump’s early years and his relationship with mentor Roy Cohn.
Update — May 24th: Trump’s attorneys have formally sent a cease and desist letter to the team behind the film in an attempt to block its release in the US, reports Variety.
The film, which stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn, and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, debuted this week at the Cannes Film Festival. According to Variety, there are several scenes which paint Trump in a particularly unflattering light, including an instance in which he throws his then-wife Ivana to the ground and sexually assaults her. (Ivana described such an assault in a 1990 sworn deposition related to the couple’s divorce.)
Elsewhere in The Apprentice, Trump is depicted using amphetamine pills and getting liposuction and a hair transplant.
Update — May 24th: Trump’s attorneys have formally sent a cease and desist letter to the team behind the film in an attempt to block its release in the US, reports Variety.
The film, which stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn, and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, debuted this week at the Cannes Film Festival. According to Variety, there are several scenes which paint Trump in a particularly unflattering light, including an instance in which he throws his then-wife Ivana to the ground and sexually assaults her. (Ivana described such an assault in a 1990 sworn deposition related to the couple’s divorce.)
Elsewhere in The Apprentice, Trump is depicted using amphetamine pills and getting liposuction and a hair transplant.
- 5/21/2024
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Film News
Every superhero gets an origin story. So, for that matter, do most supervillains. The Apprentice drops viewers into New York circa 1973, when a 34-year-old resident of Queens walked in to the upper-crust establishment on the Upper West Side known as Le Club. He went there in an attempt to impress a young woman. He’d leave having met a well-known lawyer and well-connected member of New York’s elite, who would end up changing his life. The legal eagle was the notorious Roy Cohn. The outer-borough wannabe was Donald Trump.
- 5/21/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Ali Abbasi spoke at Cannes about his controversial new film, which the Trump campaign has said ‘belongs in a dumpster fire’
The protagonist of The Apprentice is a bully and a liar, a conman and a rapist. He rejects his sick brother, sexually assaults his doting wife and cuts a deal with the mafia in order to build a skyscraper. It’s safe to assume that followers of Donald Trump won’t relish the portrayal of their hero in Ali Abbasi’s new film. As for Trump himself, though, the director suspects that he might quite enjoy it.
“I don’t think it is a movie he would dislike,” said Abbasi after The Apprentice premiered at the Cannes film festival. “I don’t necessarily think he would like it, but I think he’d be surprised. So I’m happy to meet him, have a screening and then we can discuss it afterwards.
The protagonist of The Apprentice is a bully and a liar, a conman and a rapist. He rejects his sick brother, sexually assaults his doting wife and cuts a deal with the mafia in order to build a skyscraper. It’s safe to assume that followers of Donald Trump won’t relish the portrayal of their hero in Ali Abbasi’s new film. As for Trump himself, though, the director suspects that he might quite enjoy it.
“I don’t think it is a movie he would dislike,” said Abbasi after The Apprentice premiered at the Cannes film festival. “I don’t necessarily think he would like it, but I think he’d be surprised. So I’m happy to meet him, have a screening and then we can discuss it afterwards.
- 5/21/2024
- by Xan Brooks
- The Guardian - Film News
He may be on trial for fraud in New York City, but Donald J. Trump has made his presence felt at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival.
The Iranian-born, Denmark-based film director Ali Abbasi debuted his newest movie “The Apprentice” in competition this week, and its number one critic is the former President of the United States and current Republican candidate for this year’s election. In “The Apprentice,” Sebastian Stan stars as the young Trump, with Emmy-winner and current Tony-nominee Jeremy Strong as his mentor, the notorious litigator Roy Cohn. (You can watch the successful Sundance-launched documentary “Where’s My Roy Cohn?” for more about this relationship.)
Following the film’s bow Trump’s legal representative Steven Cheung released a Trump-style statement: “We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers. This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked.
The Iranian-born, Denmark-based film director Ali Abbasi debuted his newest movie “The Apprentice” in competition this week, and its number one critic is the former President of the United States and current Republican candidate for this year’s election. In “The Apprentice,” Sebastian Stan stars as the young Trump, with Emmy-winner and current Tony-nominee Jeremy Strong as his mentor, the notorious litigator Roy Cohn. (You can watch the successful Sundance-launched documentary “Where’s My Roy Cohn?” for more about this relationship.)
Following the film’s bow Trump’s legal representative Steven Cheung released a Trump-style statement: “We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers. This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked.
- 5/21/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi has said he would like Donald Trump to watch his Cannes Competition selection after the former US president’s campaign declared it will sue the filmmakers over “blatantly false assertions”.
“I don’t necessarily think this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi told a Cannes press conference on Tuesday. ”I think he would be surprised. I would offer to go and meet him and have a screening and talk about the movie afterwards.”
Trump’s campaign labelled the 1970s-set origins story centred on the relationship between Trump and his notorious fixer Roy Cohn “pure...
“I don’t necessarily think this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi told a Cannes press conference on Tuesday. ”I think he would be surprised. I would offer to go and meet him and have a screening and talk about the movie afterwards.”
Trump’s campaign labelled the 1970s-set origins story centred on the relationship between Trump and his notorious fixer Roy Cohn “pure...
- 5/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi has said he would like Donald Trump to watch his Cannes Competition selection after the former US president’s campaign declared it will sue the filmmakers over “blatantly false assertions”.
“I don’t necessarily think this a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi told a Cannes press conference on Tuesday. ”I think he would be surprised. I would offer to go and meet him and have a screening and talk about the movie afterwards.”
Trump’s campaign labelled the 1970s-set origins story centred on the relationship between Trump and his notorious fixer Roy Cohn “pure fiction...
“I don’t necessarily think this a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi told a Cannes press conference on Tuesday. ”I think he would be surprised. I would offer to go and meet him and have a screening and talk about the movie afterwards.”
Trump’s campaign labelled the 1970s-set origins story centred on the relationship between Trump and his notorious fixer Roy Cohn “pure fiction...
- 5/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
Jeremy Strong in The Apprentice Rumored to Have 'Oscars Potential' after Cannes Premiere - Main Image
Shortly after Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, rumors began circulating that Jeremy Strong's performance as Roy Cohn could have real Oscars potential.
Starring McU's Sebastian Stan as the former US President and Succession's Jeremy Strong as the mysterious US lawyer who helped Trump rise to power, The Apprentice has been one of the most highly anticipated Cannes releases this year.
Jeremy Strong Plays the Man Who Shaped Trump
Directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice tells the fictionalized story of former US President Donald Trump's real estate career in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jeremy Strong, best known for his long-running role as Kendall Roy in the critically-lauded drama Succession, depicts Roy Cohn, a much more cunning mentor than the likes of Kendall in the HBO series.
Cohn...
Shortly after Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, rumors began circulating that Jeremy Strong's performance as Roy Cohn could have real Oscars potential.
Starring McU's Sebastian Stan as the former US President and Succession's Jeremy Strong as the mysterious US lawyer who helped Trump rise to power, The Apprentice has been one of the most highly anticipated Cannes releases this year.
Jeremy Strong Plays the Man Who Shaped Trump
Directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice tells the fictionalized story of former US President Donald Trump's real estate career in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jeremy Strong, best known for his long-running role as Kendall Roy in the critically-lauded drama Succession, depicts Roy Cohn, a much more cunning mentor than the likes of Kendall in the HBO series.
Cohn...
- 5/21/2024
- EpicStream
Filmmaker Ali Abbasi has responded to the Trump campaign’s threat to sue over his movie The Apprentice, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday night to an eight-minute standing ovation.
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people — they don’t talk about his success rate though, you know?” Abbasi said Monday morning in France, drawing laughs from the crowd at the first press conference for The Apprentice.
The director acknowledged Trump’s likely assumptions around the movie, saying, “If I was him, I would be sitting in New Jersey, Florida or wherever he is now — or New York — and I would be thinking, ‘Oh, this crazy Iranian guy and some, like, liberal c—- in Cannes, they gathered and they did this movie and it’s fucked up.'”
“But I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi added,...
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people — they don’t talk about his success rate though, you know?” Abbasi said Monday morning in France, drawing laughs from the crowd at the first press conference for The Apprentice.
The director acknowledged Trump’s likely assumptions around the movie, saying, “If I was him, I would be sitting in New Jersey, Florida or wherever he is now — or New York — and I would be thinking, ‘Oh, this crazy Iranian guy and some, like, liberal c—- in Cannes, they gathered and they did this movie and it’s fucked up.'”
“But I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi added,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“The Apprentice” director Ali Abbasi has responded to the Trump campaign’s threat to sue over the movie, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival on Monday night.
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people — they don’t talk about his success rate though, you know?” Abbasi said. He even offered to meet with Trump and screen the movie for him, saying, “I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike.”
Abbasi continued, “I don’t necessarily think he would like it. I think he would be surprised, you know? And like I’ve said before, I would offer to go and meet him wherever he wants and talk about the context of the movie, have a screening and have a chat afterwards, if that’s interesting to anyone at the Trump campaign.”
Trump’s 2024 campaign put out a lengthy statement Monday night calling the film “garbage” and “pure fiction.
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people — they don’t talk about his success rate though, you know?” Abbasi said. He even offered to meet with Trump and screen the movie for him, saying, “I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike.”
Abbasi continued, “I don’t necessarily think he would like it. I think he would be surprised, you know? And like I’ve said before, I would offer to go and meet him wherever he wants and talk about the context of the movie, have a screening and have a chat afterwards, if that’s interesting to anyone at the Trump campaign.”
Trump’s 2024 campaign put out a lengthy statement Monday night calling the film “garbage” and “pure fiction.
- 5/21/2024
- by Ellise Shafer and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The Apprentice filmmaker Ali Abbasi was asked Tuesday at the film’s Cannes Film Festival press conference about Donald Trump’s legal threats against the movie following its world premiere here the night before.
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people, they don’t talk about his success rate [with those lawsuits],” the filmmaker told the press today.
Following the movie’s premiere, where it received an 11-minute standing ovation at the Grand Theatre Lumiere, Trump campaign advisor Steven Cheung back in the U.S. declared, “We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers.”
The movie follows the rise of a young 1980s Donald J. Trump, played by Marvel Studios movie icon Sebastian Stan, as a real estate baron and how he became inspired to wheel and deal from ruthless attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong).
Related: ‘The Apprentice’ Cannes Film Festival Premiere Photos: Sebastian Stan,...
“Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people, they don’t talk about his success rate [with those lawsuits],” the filmmaker told the press today.
Following the movie’s premiere, where it received an 11-minute standing ovation at the Grand Theatre Lumiere, Trump campaign advisor Steven Cheung back in the U.S. declared, “We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers.”
The movie follows the rise of a young 1980s Donald J. Trump, played by Marvel Studios movie icon Sebastian Stan, as a real estate baron and how he became inspired to wheel and deal from ruthless attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong).
Related: ‘The Apprentice’ Cannes Film Festival Premiere Photos: Sebastian Stan,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Following its Cannes Film Festival premiere, The Apprentice – a drama allegedly based on Donald Trump’s antics – might be heading to court.
Usually, er, an absolute stranger to courtrooms and legalities, Donald Trump is currently facing an abundance of charges and legal battles that’d fill up the server space powering this website were we to list them. Still, always room for one more, and Trump’s campaign team is reportedly not very happy about the new movie The Apprentice.
It’s debuted at Cannes, and stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, with Jeremy Strong playing his ‘fixer’, Roy Cohn. Ali Abbasi has directed the movie, which Gabriel Sherman has written. Reviews have been positive, and Studiocanal just picked up the UK release rights to the movie.
In the film, there’s reportedly a nonconsensual sex scene, the taking of numerous pills, insecurity over a bald spot and things that do...
Usually, er, an absolute stranger to courtrooms and legalities, Donald Trump is currently facing an abundance of charges and legal battles that’d fill up the server space powering this website were we to list them. Still, always room for one more, and Trump’s campaign team is reportedly not very happy about the new movie The Apprentice.
It’s debuted at Cannes, and stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, with Jeremy Strong playing his ‘fixer’, Roy Cohn. Ali Abbasi has directed the movie, which Gabriel Sherman has written. Reviews have been positive, and Studiocanal just picked up the UK release rights to the movie.
In the film, there’s reportedly a nonconsensual sex scene, the taking of numerous pills, insecurity over a bald spot and things that do...
- 5/21/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Campaign spokesperson called Ali Abbasi’s film, which premiered at Cannes on Monday, ‘pure fiction which sensationalises lies that have been long debunked’
The Trump campaign has come out swinging against The Apprentice after the film, which depicts the former president raping his first wife, shocked audiences at Cannes, with a spokesperson saying that they will be “filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers”.
Speaking to Variety on Monday after the world premiere of Ali Abbasi’s film, the Trump campaign’s chief spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed they would take legal action.
The Trump campaign has come out swinging against The Apprentice after the film, which depicts the former president raping his first wife, shocked audiences at Cannes, with a spokesperson saying that they will be “filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers”.
Speaking to Variety on Monday after the world premiere of Ali Abbasi’s film, the Trump campaign’s chief spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed they would take legal action.
- 5/21/2024
- by Sian Cain
- The Guardian - Film News
by Cláudio Alves
I can't wait to plunge into the enigmas of The Shrouds.
Another day, another lackluster reception to a highly anticipated Cannes title. Ali Abbasi's Donald Trump film, The Apprentice, seems neither thrilling nor especially deep, with various comparisons to Wikipedia entries throughout naysayer's reviews. At least, its cast got general praise, with highest honors to Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn. Then again, it did receive one of the festival's longest standing ovations yet, so make of that what you will. On a more somber note, David Cronenberg's The Shrouds is being described as the director's most transparent movie, laying bare the grief of an artist dealing with his wife's passing. In a recent interview, the Canadian master described cinema as a cemetery, and it seems his latest work follows that idea to literal ends.
For the Cannes at Home odyssey, let's examine two horrors from...
I can't wait to plunge into the enigmas of The Shrouds.
Another day, another lackluster reception to a highly anticipated Cannes title. Ali Abbasi's Donald Trump film, The Apprentice, seems neither thrilling nor especially deep, with various comparisons to Wikipedia entries throughout naysayer's reviews. At least, its cast got general praise, with highest honors to Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn. Then again, it did receive one of the festival's longest standing ovations yet, so make of that what you will. On a more somber note, David Cronenberg's The Shrouds is being described as the director's most transparent movie, laying bare the grief of an artist dealing with his wife's passing. In a recent interview, the Canadian master described cinema as a cemetery, and it seems his latest work follows that idea to literal ends.
For the Cannes at Home odyssey, let's examine two horrors from...
- 5/21/2024
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
Already fighting dozens of indictments and an ongoing hush-money trial in New York, Donald Trump wants to head back to court over the movie that took Cannes by storm today.
“We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,” the Trump campaign’s Steven Cheung declared Monday over the The Apprentice film by director Ali Abbasi. Depicting the rise of Trump (Sebastian Stan) out of his father’s shadow thanks to the well-connected and ruthless Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the film just debuted in the South of France to an 11-minute standing ovation.
“This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked,” spokesperson Cheung said of the Competition film. “As with the illegal Biden Trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because...
“We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,” the Trump campaign’s Steven Cheung declared Monday over the The Apprentice film by director Ali Abbasi. Depicting the rise of Trump (Sebastian Stan) out of his father’s shadow thanks to the well-connected and ruthless Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the film just debuted in the South of France to an 11-minute standing ovation.
“This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked,” spokesperson Cheung said of the Competition film. “As with the illegal Biden Trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because...
- 5/20/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is hitting back following the premiere of the controversial film “The Apprentice,” which chronicles the 2024 presidential candidate’s early years as a real estate developer.
“We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,” the Trump campaign’s chief spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to Variety. “This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked. As with the illegal Biden Trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because nothing they have done has worked.”
Cheung’s statement continues, “This ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-dvd section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a dumpster fire.
“We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,” the Trump campaign’s chief spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to Variety. “This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked. As with the illegal Biden Trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because nothing they have done has worked.”
Cheung’s statement continues, “This ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-dvd section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a dumpster fire.
- 5/20/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
It proved to be the most disturbing scene in a movie chock full of unflattering sequences about Donald Trump.
In Ali Abbasi’s “The Apprentice,” Trump (played by Sebastian Stan) violently throws his then-wife Ivana (Maria Bakalova) to the ground and proceeds to have nonconsensual sex with her.
In the controversial scene, Ivana playfully presents a book to her husband about the merits of a female orgasm. But the interaction between the two turns dark quickly, as an uninterested Trump tells his wife that he is no longer attracted to her. They argue, and then Trump throws her to the ground. As he angrily thrusts himself into her, an icy Trump sneers: “Is that your G spot? Did I find it?”
Heading into tonight’s premiere, insiders insisted that the scene, which Variety previously reported on, was consensual but uncomfortable. But reactions within the Palais said otherwise. One woman in her 20s called the scene,...
In Ali Abbasi’s “The Apprentice,” Trump (played by Sebastian Stan) violently throws his then-wife Ivana (Maria Bakalova) to the ground and proceeds to have nonconsensual sex with her.
In the controversial scene, Ivana playfully presents a book to her husband about the merits of a female orgasm. But the interaction between the two turns dark quickly, as an uninterested Trump tells his wife that he is no longer attracted to her. They argue, and then Trump throws her to the ground. As he angrily thrusts himself into her, an icy Trump sneers: “Is that your G spot? Did I find it?”
Heading into tonight’s premiere, insiders insisted that the scene, which Variety previously reported on, was consensual but uncomfortable. But reactions within the Palais said otherwise. One woman in her 20s called the scene,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Variety Film + TV
Sebastian Stan’s upcoming film The Apprentice has found itself in a bit of controversy ahead of its release. While the specifics of the plot remain under wraps, reports suggest that the film is set against the backdrop of Trump’s early career, mentored by the notorious political figure Roy Cohn and during his marriage to Ivana Trump.
The Apprentice | Credit: Tailored Films
However, not all parties involved in the movie are pleased with the portrayal of Trump in the film, including a billionaire investor Dan Snyder, who voiced his discontent over certain aspects of its depiction of the ex-president after seeing a cut of the movie.
Sebastian Stan’s The Apprentice Reportedly in Dispute With Investor
Directed by Ali Abbasi and starring Sebastian Stan and Maria Bakalova, the biographical drama The Apprentice has found itself embroiled in a bitter dispute with one of the investors of the film, Dan Snyder,...
The Apprentice | Credit: Tailored Films
However, not all parties involved in the movie are pleased with the portrayal of Trump in the film, including a billionaire investor Dan Snyder, who voiced his discontent over certain aspects of its depiction of the ex-president after seeing a cut of the movie.
Sebastian Stan’s The Apprentice Reportedly in Dispute With Investor
Directed by Ali Abbasi and starring Sebastian Stan and Maria Bakalova, the biographical drama The Apprentice has found itself embroiled in a bitter dispute with one of the investors of the film, Dan Snyder,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
Five years ago, Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi broke out internationally with the Oscar-nominated “Border,” a thorny little beast of a fable about love, complicity, and guilt. His latest prods at some of the same themes, although the thorny little beast at the center of “The Apprentice” is far from a fictional creature of fables.
Abbasi’s newest chronicles the rise of former American president Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) through his relationship with lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong).
Continue reading ‘The Apprentice’ Review: Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump? It Works! [Cannes] at The Playlist.
Abbasi’s newest chronicles the rise of former American president Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) through his relationship with lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong).
Continue reading ‘The Apprentice’ Review: Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump? It Works! [Cannes] at The Playlist.
- 5/20/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- The Playlist
The Devil and Donald Trump: Abbasi Reconstructs the Rise of a Crony Capitalist
Among the many wise observations written by nineteenth century Englishman Lord Acton, he noted “Great men are almost always bad men…” But what if they were just plain bad to begin with? And what exactly constitutes greatness? With his fourth film, The Apprentice, filmmaker Ali Abbasi reconstructs the economic rise of Donald Trump through the 1970s and 1980s thanks to his relationship with infamous lawyer Roy Cohn, two men who fall considerably short of anything resembling greatness, putting a surprisingly thoughtful spin on both men as logical products of environments and systems which fostered ruthlessness and abject greed.…...
Among the many wise observations written by nineteenth century Englishman Lord Acton, he noted “Great men are almost always bad men…” But what if they were just plain bad to begin with? And what exactly constitutes greatness? With his fourth film, The Apprentice, filmmaker Ali Abbasi reconstructs the economic rise of Donald Trump through the 1970s and 1980s thanks to his relationship with infamous lawyer Roy Cohn, two men who fall considerably short of anything resembling greatness, putting a surprisingly thoughtful spin on both men as logical products of environments and systems which fostered ruthlessness and abject greed.…...
- 5/20/2024
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
One of the most anticipated moments of the 77th Cannes Film Festival finally arrived Monday night with the world premiere of the Donald Trump drama The Apprentice, starring Sebastian Stan as a young version of the real estate mogul in his pre-maga days.
Only Francis Ford Coppola’s wildly ambitious swan song Megalopolis had inspired more pre-premiere chatter and curiosity at this year’s edition of the glamorous French film festival. Ahead of its unveiling, virtually no one had seen The Apprentice, as the movie reportedly was finished only days before its premiere.
Ali Abbasi, Stan, Martin Donovan and Maria Bakalova walked the Cannes red carpet for the premiere. Only Jeremy Strong, who plays notorious political fixer Roy Cohn in the film, was not in attendance.
Directed by acclaimed Iranian-Danish filmmaker Abbasi and written by Gabe Sherman, The Apprentice explores Donald Trump’s rise to power in 1980s America under...
Only Francis Ford Coppola’s wildly ambitious swan song Megalopolis had inspired more pre-premiere chatter and curiosity at this year’s edition of the glamorous French film festival. Ahead of its unveiling, virtually no one had seen The Apprentice, as the movie reportedly was finished only days before its premiere.
Ali Abbasi, Stan, Martin Donovan and Maria Bakalova walked the Cannes red carpet for the premiere. Only Jeremy Strong, who plays notorious political fixer Roy Cohn in the film, was not in attendance.
Directed by acclaimed Iranian-Danish filmmaker Abbasi and written by Gabe Sherman, The Apprentice explores Donald Trump’s rise to power in 1980s America under...
- 5/20/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski and Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Even in Cannes, it’s hard to avoid Donald Trump.
“The Apprentice,” the story of the 45th and possibly 47th president’s early years as a real estate developer, earned a eight-minute standing ovation on Monday. It’s probably safe to assume that the film festival crowd isn’t a Maga-heavy one, so it helps that “The Apprentice” paints a blistering portrait, focusing on Trump’s relationship with Roy Cohn, the McCarthy-ite lawyer and fixer who took an interest in the “the Donald” before he was a household name.
Sebastian Stan (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”) stars as Trump, Jeremy Strong (“Succession”) plays Cohn and Maria Bakalova (“Borat 2”) portrays Ivana Trump, the thrice-married president’s first spouse. Ali Abbasi, the Iranian-Danish filmmaker behind “Border” and “Holy Spider,” directs the movie from a script by Gabriel Sherman, a journalist who covered the Trump White House, as well as...
“The Apprentice,” the story of the 45th and possibly 47th president’s early years as a real estate developer, earned a eight-minute standing ovation on Monday. It’s probably safe to assume that the film festival crowd isn’t a Maga-heavy one, so it helps that “The Apprentice” paints a blistering portrait, focusing on Trump’s relationship with Roy Cohn, the McCarthy-ite lawyer and fixer who took an interest in the “the Donald” before he was a household name.
Sebastian Stan (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”) stars as Trump, Jeremy Strong (“Succession”) plays Cohn and Maria Bakalova (“Borat 2”) portrays Ivana Trump, the thrice-married president’s first spouse. Ali Abbasi, the Iranian-Danish filmmaker behind “Border” and “Holy Spider,” directs the movie from a script by Gabriel Sherman, a journalist who covered the Trump White House, as well as...
- 5/20/2024
- by Matt Donnelly and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The Trumps were on the red carpet this evening at the Cannes Film Festival — sort of — as Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice world premiered in competition. The film was greeted with an 11-minute post-screening ovation at the Grand Theatre Lumiere.
Sebastian Stan, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominee known for his work in the MCU and the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, here plays a young Donald Trump with Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat 2) as Trump’s first wife, Ivana. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Strong also stars as infamous attorney Roy Cohn, and Martin Donovan is playing Fred Trump.
Stan and Bakalova attended the red-carpet premiere. Strong was not in attendance as we understand he stayed in New York where he is starring on Broadway in An Enemy of the People.
Abbasi in remarks after the film said he wanted to embrace the politics of now in cinema with so much unrest in the world.
“In the time of turmoil, there’s this tendency to look inwards, to bury your head deep in the sand … and hope for the best, hope for the storm to get away,” he said. “But you know, the storm is not going away, the storm is coming, actually. The worst times are to come.”
The storm is coming, it’s time to make movies political again says director of ‘The Apprentice’ Ali Abbasi #Cannes pic.twitter.com/mEUVdXV8Dp
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
There was lots of hugs going around among Abbasi, Stan and Bakalova as the lights went up on the two-hour film. Cate Blanchett, Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Stone were among the crowd applauding afterward. Stone, who has made his share of political films, even offered a spot review.
Oliver Stone and @BazBam catch up after ‘The Apprentice’ premiere to discuss the film: “It’s like ‘Citizen Kane’ in that regard” #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/oCjYHmJnED
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
An exploration of power and ambition, and set in a world of corruption and deceit, The Apprentice examines Trump’s efforts to build his real estate business in New York in the 1970s and 80s, also digging into his relationship with Cohn. It’s a mentor-protégé story that charts the origins of a major American dynasty. Filled with larger than life characters, it reveals the moral and human cost of a culture defined by winners and losers.
The real-life former Potus is currently standing trial in a criminal hush-money case in New York.
Gabriel Sherman, whose bestseller The Loudest Voice in the Room inspired Showtime’s miniseries The Loudest Voice, starring Russell Crowe as Fox News founder Roger Ailes, wrote The Apprentice script.
The Apprentice producers are Daniel Bekerman of Scythia Films, Jacob Jarek of Profile Pictures and Ruth Treacy of Taylored Films. Executive producers are Grant S. Johnson, Sherman and Amy Baer, in association with Kinematics as the financier.
International sales are being handled by Rocket Science with CAA and WME on domestic sales in Cannes. Studiocanal recently acquired UK-Ireland rights.
Sebastian Stan, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominee known for his work in the MCU and the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, here plays a young Donald Trump with Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat 2) as Trump’s first wife, Ivana. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Strong also stars as infamous attorney Roy Cohn, and Martin Donovan is playing Fred Trump.
Stan and Bakalova attended the red-carpet premiere. Strong was not in attendance as we understand he stayed in New York where he is starring on Broadway in An Enemy of the People.
Abbasi in remarks after the film said he wanted to embrace the politics of now in cinema with so much unrest in the world.
“In the time of turmoil, there’s this tendency to look inwards, to bury your head deep in the sand … and hope for the best, hope for the storm to get away,” he said. “But you know, the storm is not going away, the storm is coming, actually. The worst times are to come.”
The storm is coming, it’s time to make movies political again says director of ‘The Apprentice’ Ali Abbasi #Cannes pic.twitter.com/mEUVdXV8Dp
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
There was lots of hugs going around among Abbasi, Stan and Bakalova as the lights went up on the two-hour film. Cate Blanchett, Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Stone were among the crowd applauding afterward. Stone, who has made his share of political films, even offered a spot review.
Oliver Stone and @BazBam catch up after ‘The Apprentice’ premiere to discuss the film: “It’s like ‘Citizen Kane’ in that regard” #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/oCjYHmJnED
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
An exploration of power and ambition, and set in a world of corruption and deceit, The Apprentice examines Trump’s efforts to build his real estate business in New York in the 1970s and 80s, also digging into his relationship with Cohn. It’s a mentor-protégé story that charts the origins of a major American dynasty. Filled with larger than life characters, it reveals the moral and human cost of a culture defined by winners and losers.
The real-life former Potus is currently standing trial in a criminal hush-money case in New York.
Gabriel Sherman, whose bestseller The Loudest Voice in the Room inspired Showtime’s miniseries The Loudest Voice, starring Russell Crowe as Fox News founder Roger Ailes, wrote The Apprentice script.
The Apprentice producers are Daniel Bekerman of Scythia Films, Jacob Jarek of Profile Pictures and Ruth Treacy of Taylored Films. Executive producers are Grant S. Johnson, Sherman and Amy Baer, in association with Kinematics as the financier.
International sales are being handled by Rocket Science with CAA and WME on domestic sales in Cannes. Studiocanal recently acquired UK-Ireland rights.
- 5/20/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Of all the various actors who've made their mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sebastian Stan might be the one who's chosen the most interesting career path upon stepping outside of the superhero limelight. Stan hasn't exactly shied away from some of the more challenging and, occasionally, downright controversial roles out there, arguably beginning this little streak of sorts with director Craig Gillespie's "I, Tonya" in 2017. He followed this up with a supporting turn in Karyn Kusama's brutal "Destroyer," the bizarre horror/comedy "Fresh" (let's just say that movie packs a bite), and, of course, his Emmy-nominated performance as Tommy Lee in "Pam & Tommy," the Pamela Anderson-centric Hulu miniseries that stirred up no headlines whatsoever.
Not content to rest on his laurels, Stan promptly went and attached himself to a role that likely gave his agent no shortage of heart palpitations: a movie about Donald Trump's rise to infamy.
Not content to rest on his laurels, Stan promptly went and attached himself to a role that likely gave his agent no shortage of heart palpitations: a movie about Donald Trump's rise to infamy.
- 5/20/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Ali Abbasi’s film, starring Sebastian Stan, presents a fictionalised account of an incident recorded in Ivana Trump’s 1990 divorce deposition, and since retracted
The Apprentice review – cartoon version of chump-in-chief Donald Trump’s early years
Donald Trump is depicted as a rapist who assaulted his first wife, Ivana, in a new biopic, The Apprentice, which has its world premiere in competition at this year’s Cannes film festival on Monday. Directed by the Iranian-Danish film-maker Ali Abbasi, the drama provides a fictionalised account of a 1989 incident that was previously detailed in the couple’s divorce proceedings.
The scene, which occurs near the end of The Apprentice, depicts Trump reacting with fury after Ivana disparages his physical appearance. “You have a face like a fucking orange,” she tells him. “You’re getting fat, you’re getting ugly, and you’re getting bald.” The future president is then shown forcing his...
The Apprentice review – cartoon version of chump-in-chief Donald Trump’s early years
Donald Trump is depicted as a rapist who assaulted his first wife, Ivana, in a new biopic, The Apprentice, which has its world premiere in competition at this year’s Cannes film festival on Monday. Directed by the Iranian-Danish film-maker Ali Abbasi, the drama provides a fictionalised account of a 1989 incident that was previously detailed in the couple’s divorce proceedings.
The scene, which occurs near the end of The Apprentice, depicts Trump reacting with fury after Ivana disparages his physical appearance. “You have a face like a fucking orange,” she tells him. “You’re getting fat, you’re getting ugly, and you’re getting bald.” The future president is then shown forcing his...
- 5/20/2024
- by Xan Brooks
- The Guardian - Film News
Cannes film festival
Ali Abbasi’s film presents young Donald as an amoral narcissist, wastes the talent of Jeremy Strong and includes a grisly rape scene that is quickly glossed over
News: new film about Donald Trump depicts him as a rapist
Donald Trump will not be the smallest bit worried by this genially ironic, lenient TV movie-style treatment of his early adventures in 70s landlordism, property and tabloid celebrity – and his own apprentice relationship with dark legal sorcerer and Nixon intimate Roy Cohn, the bully whose connections added to Donald’s wealth and who taught him to lie to others and himself and never admit defeat. There had been many rumours here in Cannes before this film screened about its rape scene, of which, more in a moment.
Director Ali Abbasi has given us fascinating monsters in the past with Holy Spider and Border but the monstrosity here is almost sentimental,...
Ali Abbasi’s film presents young Donald as an amoral narcissist, wastes the talent of Jeremy Strong and includes a grisly rape scene that is quickly glossed over
News: new film about Donald Trump depicts him as a rapist
Donald Trump will not be the smallest bit worried by this genially ironic, lenient TV movie-style treatment of his early adventures in 70s landlordism, property and tabloid celebrity – and his own apprentice relationship with dark legal sorcerer and Nixon intimate Roy Cohn, the bully whose connections added to Donald’s wealth and who taught him to lie to others and himself and never admit defeat. There had been many rumours here in Cannes before this film screened about its rape scene, of which, more in a moment.
Director Ali Abbasi has given us fascinating monsters in the past with Holy Spider and Border but the monstrosity here is almost sentimental,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
A lot of people would disagree with me, but I think there’s a mystery at the heart of Donald Trump. Many believe there’s no mystery, just a highly visible and documented legacy of bad behavior, selfishness, used-car-salesman effrontery, criminal transgressions, and abuse of power. They would say that Trump lies, slurs, showboats, bullies, toots racist dog whistles so loudly they’re not whistles anymore, and is increasingly open about the authoritarian president he plans to be.
All totally true, but also too easy. What it all leaves out, about the precise kind of man Donald Trump is, is this:
When Trump made “Stop the steal” the new cornerstone of his ideology, arguing, from the 2020 Election Night onward, that Joe Biden had stolen the election, was it simply the mother of all Trump lies? Or was it a lie that Trump told so often, in such an ego-shoring-up way,...
All totally true, but also too easy. What it all leaves out, about the precise kind of man Donald Trump is, is this:
When Trump made “Stop the steal” the new cornerstone of his ideology, arguing, from the 2020 Election Night onward, that Joe Biden had stolen the election, was it simply the mother of all Trump lies? Or was it a lie that Trump told so often, in such an ego-shoring-up way,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Don’t be confused about the title The Apprentice. This is not a movie version of the NBC reality TV series in any way, but instead a smart, sharp and surprising origin story of the man who hosted it. In this case the actual “apprentice” is Donald Trump, infamous real estate developer, former President of the United States and current presumed GOP nominee for 2024.
But the political Trump is not in Iranian-Danish director Ali Abbasi’s compelling film, which instead zeroes in on a specific period of Trump’s life in the early ’70s when he was in his 20s and struggling to make a name for himself in the world of real estate in New York City. But it isn’t just about him — it is equally focused on his unique relationship with his lawyer, the notorious Roy Cohn, often referred to as vicious, cruel, ruthless and sadistic, a...
But the political Trump is not in Iranian-Danish director Ali Abbasi’s compelling film, which instead zeroes in on a specific period of Trump’s life in the early ’70s when he was in his 20s and struggling to make a name for himself in the world of real estate in New York City. But it isn’t just about him — it is equally focused on his unique relationship with his lawyer, the notorious Roy Cohn, often referred to as vicious, cruel, ruthless and sadistic, a...
- 5/20/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
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