Review: ‘The Apprentice’ stirs the hornet’s nest with Trump portrayal
Updated 03 June 2024
Gautaman Bhaskaran
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.
DUBAI: From super-fast cars to superhero stars, some of the blockbusters due in the next few months
‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames
Ethan Hawke is back in this direct sequel to 2023’s “Dead Reckoning — Part One.” It continues the story of Hawke and his crew’s battle against the Entity — a rogue AI capable of controlling Earth’s defense and financial networks. After the relatively poor box-office performance of “Dead Reckoning,” this needs to be a big hit, or else it really might — as the name implies but as no one yet believes — be the final outing for Cruise in one of the most iconic action roles in cinema history. Due out May 22.
‘Lilo & Stitch’
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Starring: Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Zach Galifianakis
Live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animation about a young orphan girl (Lilo) who befriends Stitch, a dog-like alien who, unbeknownst to Lilo, is genetically engineered to be a destructive force. Lilo hopes that Stitch can help with the troubles she is having with child protective services, who are threatening to separate her from her older sister Nani. But if he’s going to do that, then together they will have to keep him safe from the aliens hunting for him. Chris Sanders, writer and director of the original movie, returns as the voice of Stitch. Due out May 22.
‘The Phoenician Scheme’
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera
This new feature from one of the world’s most singular filmmakers is a darkly humorous thriller in which wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda decides to make his somewhat estranged daughter Liesl (a nun, and the only female among Korda’s 10 children) the sole heir to his fortune after surviving the latest in several attempts on his life. That fortune depends greatly on the success of a land-expansion project he’s been planning for years. The two of them team up with Korda’s Norwegian tutor Bjorn to complete the project at great risk to themselves. Due out May 29.
‘F1’
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon
Sports drama whose makers have trumpeted the realism granted by its collaboration with the governing body of the F1 World Championship. Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver who retired following a horrific crash in the Nineties. His friend — and F1 team owner — Ruben Cervantes persuades him to come out of retirement in order to mentor the team’s rookie prodigy Joshua Pearce. Due out June 26.
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’
Director: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey
Sequel to 2022’s “Jurassic World Dominion,” set five years on from the events of that film. Few dinosaurs have managed to survive. The ones that have are generally to be found in remote tropical areas. Covert operative Zora Bennett is hired by a pharmaceutical company to accompany its team on a secret mission to acquire the DNA of the largest remaining prehistoric species from land, sea and air respectively, which the company claims holds the key to a miracle drug that will save billions of lives. Due out July 3
‘Superman’
Director: James Gunn
Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult
As DC looks to launch its own cinematic universe to rival Marvel’s, it makes sense it would begin with a reboot of the Superman franchise. The eponymous hero, who spends his non-Superman time as mild-mannered journalist Clark Kent, has been described by producer Peter Safran as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.” The movie apparently finds Superman attempting to reconcile his alien heritage with his adoptive human family. Due out July 11.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
Director: Matt Shakman
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Marvel Studios are hoping it’s third time lucky for The Fantastic Four, this being the second reboot of the series. It’s also the opening of Phase Six(!) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is set in a Sixties-inspired parallel Earth, which the eponymous team of heroes — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic; his wife Sue Storm/Invisible Woman; her brother Johnny Storm/Human Torch; and Reed’s best friend Ben Grimm/The Thing — must protect from the planet-devouring being Galactus. Due out July 25.
Four songs to stream before Guns ‘N Roses hits the stage in Riyadh
Updated 21 min 38 sec ago
Arab News
DUBAI: As legendary US rock band Guns 'N Roses prepares to take to the stage at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on May 23 to kick off their 2025 world tour, we’ve rounded up four of their hits to stream before the show.
The Kingdom Arena gig will be the first show of a 24-gig tour. The iconic band will also play in Bahrain at Beyon Al-Dana Amphitheater on May 20, 2025, and in Abu Dhabi at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, on May 27, 2025.
‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ (1990)
This ballad has all the wonder of the Bob Dylan original, with epic Guns ‘N Roses flair to boot.
‘Paradise City’ (1987)
With one of the most recognizable choruses in rock history, fans can expect to belt “Take me down to the paradise city, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty” at the Riyadh concert on May 23.
‘November Rain’ (1991)
The epic ballad came with an equally emotional music video.
‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ (1987)
No Guns 'N Roses tracklist would be complete without this anthem, a favorite of air guitar afficionados everywhere.
DUBAI: The UAE is set to host the Middle East’s first Disney theme park, with Disneyland Abu Dhabi confirmed for Yas Island.
An official opening date has yet to be revealed.
The project is a collaboration between Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based entertainment developer, and The Walt Disney Company.
(Left to right) Mohamed Al-Zaabi, Mohamed Al-Mubarak, Robert Iger, Josh D'Amaro. (Supplied)
Once completed, it will be Disney’s seventh global destination, adding to its parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
The new resort will be developed and constructed by Miral, while Disney will handle creative design, attraction development and overall experience planning
Robert Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement: “This is an extraordinary opportunity for Disney to bring its renowned storytelling to yet another region of the world with a completely new theme park experience that will be a cultural, entertainment and technological marvel.”
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, said: “The concept for this resort will push the boundaries of theme park design, showcasing groundbreaking technology and visionary architecture, including a modern castle unlike anything we’ve ever created.”
Global Celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Nancy Ajram and Ed Westwick joined the celebrations on Yas Island.
Review: Exhilarating South Korean anime ‘Solo Leveling’ packs a punch
Updated 07 May 2025
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: One of South Korea’s hottest anime series, “Solo Leveling” takes viewers on an electrifying adventure, blending themes of fantasy and action in a mystical world.
In its second season, main character Sung Jinwoo struggles to find his purpose as a low level hunter in a world with powerful warriors who travel through portals to fight magical beasts. One day, after a strenuous battle which wiped out his peers, Jinwoo was left in a dungeon.
In a plot twist, Jinwoo is spared and “reawakened” by the “System” with a new life, immersing him in a video game-like world where he becomes an iconic fighter.
Once a hunter awakens, their ranks are set and they have no possibility for leveling up, leaving them to hone their skills through training.
As Jinwoo’s strength increases and he gains fighting skills, his battles with monsters become more intense, intricate, and fast paced. The battle scenes have gained tremendous popularity and rightfully so — Jinwoo partakes in provoking conversations with his enemies, enraging them and defeating them with ease.
The battle scenes are epic and portrayed through colorful animations shown at every angle. Anime fans describe Jinwoo to be “aura farming,” a trending term describing the act of an individual intentionally doing something “cool” and always winning seamlessly.
Anime series often start with a slow burn, but “Solo Leveling” starts off strong, packing a punch with its gripping fantasy storyline from the first episode.
The only downside is that the fast-paced nature of the show introduces new characters and scenes without a buildup, potentially causing confusion for some viewers.
Based on an anime series by author Chu-Gong, the on-screen adaptation is worth watching if you are looking for your next binge-worthy anime.
LONDON: Back when it debuted in 2018, “You” was a wonderfully trashy, pulpy thriller that invited audiences to snigger at the sheer silliness of its lead character’s likability. After all, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) might have been a charming, literature-loving bookstore manager – but he was also, we learned during that excellent first season, a serial killer with a tendency to stalk and emotionally manipulate his latest fixation before finally revealing his psychopathic tendencies.
Having a charismatic serial killer at the heart of a show is nothing new – just look at the irrepressible “Dexter” – but “You” set itself apart by not taking itself too seriously, acknowledging the ridiculousness of its central conceit and reveling in the silliness of making us ‘root’ for its really bad good guy. The last series, for example, saw Joe move to London and wind up getting blamed for the murder of a cadre of vacuous socialites, only to discover that he was, in fact, guilty of the crimes after having had a psychotic break – that’s the level of silliness we’re dealing with here. And, for the most part, it works. “You” remains a rip-roaring good time – albeit one with a problematic heartthrob as its protagonist.
A still from the series that is available on Netflix. (Supplied)
The fifth and final season sees Joe return to New York with new wife Kate, cleared of any previous crimes thanks to her influence and power – trying to be on his best behavior, but using his unique skillset to ‘protect’ his family from perceived threats when he can’t keep his murderous tendencies to himself. That setup makes the first half of the final season a decent enough watch – there’s plenty of commentary on high society and its hypocrisy, of the immunity granted to those with money and status, however awful they might be.
But “You” too quickly sets Joe back on a path we’ve seen him tread in the past – his head turned by new muse Bronte (Madeline Brewer), killing anyone who threatens his perception of their romantic connection. With the show now deviating from the Caroline Kepnes books that inspired the earlier seasons, there’s a rush to a finale that feels reductive – given how much we’ve invested in Joe’s character arc, the violent conclusion feels overblown and overly dramatic. Whether or not Joe gets what he deserves is open to debate – but we’ve been robbed of the finale we’ve earned for sticking with him.
