The nominees for the 97th Academy Awards are in, and the season is already shaping up to be anything but straightforward. Among the top contenders is The Brutalist, whose AI-related revelations have led to some speculation, and The Apprentice, Ali Abbasi’s Donald Trump biopic, which has stirred plenty of controversy due to its contentious subject matter. Despite the film’s polarizing nature, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong have both received Oscar nominations, with Stan praising the Academy for bringing attention to a film that has struggled to find its footing in the market.
In their responses to the nominations, both Stan and Strong expressed gratitude, acknowledging that The Apprentice’s provocative nature made it a tough sell for marketers. The film takes an intimate approach to the Trump story, focusing on the complex, human aspects of the former president and his mentor, Roy Cohn. As Strong pointed out, the film delves into the “long, dark shadow” cast by Cohn’s legacy and explores the aggressive, misleading tactics that have shaped Trump’s persona and career.
Despite the discomfort that may arise from empathizing with such controversial figures, The Apprentice doesn’t attempt to excuse their actions. Instead, it emphasizes the emotional disconnect and damage caused by their humanity being locked away, both within themselves and in their influence on others. This introspective angle sets the film apart from other Trump narratives, as it challenges viewers to confront the human complexities behind the public figures they see.
Stan and Strong’s nominations for their roles in this challenging film are seen as brave choices by the Academy, as The Apprentice doesn’t simply follow the typical path of Trump critiques. It asks tough questions about the consequences of stripping away humanity in favor of power and control—questions that are uncomfortable but necessary to explore. Their nominations speak to the importance of sincerity in storytelling, a value that is increasingly rare in an era of satire and cynicism.