Amidst heated election battles, the provocative biopic The Apprentice, detailing Donald Trump’s controversial early life, including alleged criminal acts, launches in US theaters, potentially influencing voter sentiment.
The explosive Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice will debut in US theaters this Friday. Filmmakers are betting it will attract audiences in a nation deeply divided, just weeks before Trump faces Kamala Harris in a crucial electoral showdown. The film, spotlighting the Republican candidate’s early years, has elicited legal threats from Trump’s attorneys for its stark portrayals, including scenes depicting Trump assaulting his first wife.
Major Hollywood studios shied away from distributing this contentious film, which will instead screen in approximately 1,700 North American theaters under the indie label Briarcliff Entertainment. "People find the controversy around this movie fascinating," remarked director Ali Abbasi at the film’s New York premiere, attended by stars like Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong.
One scene particularly stirring public debate portrays Donald Trump assaulting his first wife, Ivana, following derogatory comments about his appearance. Although Ivana initially accused Trump of rape during their divorce proceedings, she later retracted the claim. She passed away in 2022.
Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, noted that while controversy raises awareness, it remains uncertain if it will drive viewers to theaters. He predicts The Apprentice won’t top this weekend's box office charts.
The film juxtaposes Trump’s ruthless ambition against his naivety as a young man trying to make his mark in the challenging realms of Manhattan real estate and politics. Abbasi, at a press conference during the Cannes Film Festival, denied accusations of the film being overly critical of Trump, even inviting him to watch it before forming an opinion.
Despite the film's contentious nature, which has led Donald Trump’s legal team to threaten lawsuits over what they call "malicious defamation," its timing could be fortuitous, echoing the success of other politically themed biopics like Reagan.
The title The Apprentice relates to Trump's earlier television fame and underscores the complex persona of a man who became a national figure. James Shani, the executive producer, lauded Briarcliff Entertainment at the New York premiere for daring to distribute the film during such a contentious time.
With AFP
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