Review: ‘The Apprentice’ stirs the hornet’s nest with Trump portrayal

‘The Apprentice’ stars Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 03 June 2024
Follow

Review: ‘The Apprentice’ stirs the hornet’s nest with Trump portrayal

CANNES: Iranian Danish director Ali Abassi's Cannes Film Festival competition entry “The Apprentice” was one of the most talked about films at the recent event.

The movie caused a stir largely because it zeroes in on a hardly known aspect of the man, played by US Romanian actor Sebastian Stan. We first meet Trump as a young man in the early 1970s while he was working for his cold and condescending father Fred (Martin Donovan).

Enter Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), a notoriously vicious lawyer who mentors the young Trump and imparts his three rules for success: Always attack, never admit to any wrongdoing, and never admit defeat.

With a screenplay by political journalist Gabriel Sherman, the film depicts an eager apprentice being tutored by Cohn to override humane notions of morality and ethics. While a disclaimer says that some artistic licence has been taken, it hasn’t stopped the film from stirring the hornet’s nest — in fact, two weeks on from the premiere and an eight-minute standing ovation the film still does not have a US distributor.

The movie goes further than a mere biographical sketch of Trump and Cohn by chronicling the dirty days of the Nixon era and the corporate greed that fuelled the Reagan years. The second half of “The Apprentice” focuses less on the mentor-mentee relationship and more on Trump himself, with his first wife Ivana essayed in the film by the savvy and self-aware Maria Bakalova. 

 The film has a grainy texture which portrays the 1970s and 1980s in all its tacky authenticity and Aleks Marinkovich’s production design highlights some of the vulgarity that the era is famous for.

 Some will say the film is too harsh, while many will say its not harsh enough and Stan’s performance as an almost gentle young man is so at odds with the character we know today that it is a little jarring.

 


Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark

Updated 11 February 2025
Follow

Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark

TORONTO: “Muslim Matchmaker” premiered on Hulu this week. The series is directed and produced by Smriti Mundhra (of Netflix’s “Indian Matchmaking” fame).

But this time around it’s not Sima Aunty and her outrageous comments, but rather two older sister types – Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady – who are helping eight Muslim Americans find love.

The premise of their matchmaking business is the “Rules of Three: Three dates, three months, and three hundred questions.” In an era of dating apps and superficial swipes, the duo urges couples to approach their search for love with intention. They emphasize the importance of giving the relationship time and space to grow while asking the right questions.

The eight-episode show provides a fresh perspective on Muslim Americans as they navigate both their Muslim and cultural identities in the West. It offers captivating discussions on topics like cultural expectations when dating an older woman, the appropriate timeline to “date,” and finding a partner with an equal “halal-to-haram ratio.” These discussions are sure to resonate with many. And perhaps, offer a glimpse into a Muslim world that’s rarely seen in mainstream Western media.

The show comes with good intentions. For one, it acknowledges dating app fatigue. It offers a refreshing take with matchmakers who approach singles’ choices without judgment or sacrilegious remarks about “wanting too much” (looking at you, Sima Aunty).

But that’s also probably the biggest failing of the show. Dating shows thrive on drama – and there’s none here.

Tension doesn't surface until episode four. A Bengali-American woman is older than the man she’s dating, and cultural norms deem this unacceptable. We’re left on a cliffhanger, wondering how the Bengali-American man will disclose the relationship to his family.

It shouldn’t take that long to get us hooked.


Japanese gaming expert sees potential in Saudi industry

Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

Japanese gaming expert sees potential in Saudi industry

  • Game producers in Japan could tailor products to Saudi players, says Prof. Koji Mikami
  • Saudi spending power makes region a valuable market

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is an important market for Japanese video game producers, who could tailor their games to appeal to the region, according to one expert.

Koji Mikami, a professor at the Tokyo University of Technology who specializes in gaming technology, spoke about the Saudi industry’s potential during an event in Riyadh on Monday.

“In my opinion, Saudi Arabian gamers love high-quality games and are willing to invest in premium gaming experiences,” he said.

Mikami emphasized that Saudi gamers’ spending power makes the region a valuable market for Japanese game studios.

“I believe Saudi Arabia has bigger potential than other regions, and I hope Japanese game studios will develop games tailored for the Saudi market,” he added.

The comments were made at a seminar hosted on Monday by the Federation of Saudi Chambers in collaboration with the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East.

The event, part of the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 initiative, explored market trends, gaming technologies, and potential partnerships between the two nations.

With Saudi Arabia rapidly becoming a global hub for gaming and esports, the seminar underscored the potential for Japanese developers to invest in the Kingdom’s booming industry.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is famously a keen gamer, and according to PwC, 67 percent of the population — or 23.5 million people — share his hobby.

The Kingdom is also investing $38 billion into the gaming industry through the Public Investment Fund.

Discussions at the event highlighted Saudi Arabia’s gaming market growth, with increasing investments in game development, esports, and localization.

The event also touched on opportunities for collaboration between Saudi and Japanese gaming companies in areas such as co-developing new IPs, technology exchange, and industry partnerships.

The event concluded with a panel discussion on the future of gaming, emphasizing the importance of knowledge-sharing, innovation, and cross-border partnerships to advance the industry.

Speakers reinforced Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing a sustainable and tech-driven gaming ecosystem, aligned with Vision 2030 objectives.

 


Saudi-backed film ‘Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo’ gets US festival debut

Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

Saudi-backed film ‘Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo’ gets US festival debut

DUBAI: Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Fund, Egyptian filmmaker Khaled Mansour’s “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” had its US premiere at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

With screenings on Feb. 9, 11, and 14 at the US festival, the film travelled to the country after screenings at the Venice Film Festival and Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in 2024.

The first Egyptian film to screen at September’s Venice Film Festival in 12 years, “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” tells the story of protagonist Hassan as he searches for a safe haven for his best friend, his beloved dog Rambo, after the canine is threatened by their landlord.

“The story of ‘Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo’ focuses on my generation and, through Hassan’s journey, we went deep into our thoughts, beliefs, fears, and sense of belonging. This project took about eight years to make because I intended to present unique and genuine cinema,” Mansour told Arab News at December’s RSIFF.

The auteur, who has also directed three short films and a mini-series titled “Rawaa Reads” (2023), continued: “It is my first feature-length narrative film, and this film is not (just) about a dog and his friend, but it is about the complexities of our generation, highlighting (the) struggle … that we go through in our society.”

The film was inspired by a real incident that resulted in an Egyptian court jailing four men in 2015 over the brutal killing of a dog, which was filmed and sparked outrage when the video went viral.


Japanese car exhibition zooms into Ithra

Updated 07 February 2025
Follow

Japanese car exhibition zooms into Ithra

DHAHRAN: Ithra, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, is presenting a special vintage car exhibition, which began on Thursday.

The exhibition is part of the Japan Cultural Days event, hosted at Ithra headquarters in Dhahran to celebrate 70 years of Japan-Saudi relations.

The exhibition is part of the Japan Cultural Days event. (Supplied)

The exhibition is being held outdoors in the Energy Exhibit area, which provides a distinctive setting for this unique display.

Maha Abdulhadi, creative programs specialist at Ithra, told Arab News: “With help from Japanese classic car enthusiasts Ali Aldhamin and Nazar Alqlaf, we curated this display to showcase a broad range of vehicles that represent a significant chapter in the history of the Japanese car industry, which is highly appreciated in Saudi Arabia.”

The exhibition features 13 cars, most of which are owned by private collectors in Qatif, and spans a variety of classic models, modern designs, and concept vehicles. “This is a rare opportunity for car enthusiasts in the Kingdom to experience Japanese engineering and design up close,” Abdulhadi said.

The exhibition is being held outdoors in the Energy Exhibit area. (Supplied)

The display highlights the design, technology and innovative features of Japanese vehicles, with the cars available for viewing from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

“This unique exhibit showcases Japan’s innovative designs, precision engineering, and passion for performance, enhancing the festival experience,” Abdulhadi said. “A Japanese car show as part of the Japan Cultural Days highlights Japan’s rich automotive heritage, fosters community engagement, and promotes cultural exchange. It also attracts car enthusiasts.”

The exhibition ends on February 8, marking the conclusion of the Japan Cultural Days celebration.


Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 40th birthday in Saudi Arabia 

Updated 07 February 2025
Follow

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 40th birthday in Saudi Arabia 

DUBAI: Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo marked his 40th birthday in Saudi Arabia, surrounded by family and friends. 

Ronaldo hosted an intimate gathering at Nozomi, a renowned Japanese restaurant in Riyadh. The night featured a private performance by Puerto Rican artist Rauw Alejandro, who entertained guests with hits such as “Punto 40” and “Todo de Ti.” 

In videos shared on social media, the football star was spotted dancing alongside his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, and his mother. 

He shared pictures from the celebration on Instagram, and wrote: “Thank you all for the amazing birthday messages! Had a great day with family and friends, couldn’t wish for anything better.”

As part of the festivities, Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s current club, presented him with a special birthday cake featuring images of his five Ballon d’Or trophies and childhood photos. The cake was also displayed at the intimate gathering.

Rodriguez shared a birthday message for Ronaldo on Instagram, writing: “Happy birthday to our great love. Thank God for bringing a man like you into my life, and thank life for giving us the greatest happiness — our family, our children. To a life together, always holding each other tightly. Wishing the best to the best.” 

The Kingdom went the extra mile to ensure the footballer’s milestone celebration was memorable.

The Light Ball at Boulevard World illuminated in celebration of Ronaldo’s birthday. The message “We celebrate with you, CR7. Happy birthday. Saudi loves you,” was displayed on the sphere alongside videos of the footballer performing his trademark celebration.

Rodriguez also took to Instagram to share shots of billboards in Riyadh lighting up to honor the star’s 40th birthday.