Sometimes we get biopics that help explore a subject who we know little about. Sometimes it’s meant to give us a window into who they are—or who they would become. The Apprentice—which focuses on a young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong)—falls into the latter category.

The film picks up the action in the 1970s as Trump is trying to make a name for himself and build a business—and a brand. That means both trying to please his father Fred (Martin Donovan) and trying to find a way to get ahead in spite of him.

The film follows Trump’s life and career over about a decade. It shows his meeting and marriage to Ivana (Maria Bakalova), and the eventual tensions and abuses that would lead to their split. And it shows Trump’s style in business and the risks he took to build an empire of his own.

But mostly, it focuses on his relationship with Cohn, a powerhouse attorney with some shady practices and methods. At the outset, Trump is the novice who recruits Cohn to help get his business interests off the ground. It sets up a sort of mentorship relationship as Cohn pours into the young businessman, giving him insight into his point-of-view and his strategies.

Eventually Trump moves on and Cohn’s dealings catch up with him. But the lessons he learned carry forward into Trump’s infamous career.

This film comes from writer/director Ali Abbasi, who worked on The Last of Us and gave us the searing 2022 film Holy Spider. He is clearly interested in exploring this relationship and through it seeing how Trump built the philosophy that would guide him in business and politics. You can see in these early exchanges some of the ideology that would become core to his approach to any conflict.

The film touches on a lot of different ideas and topics—from Trump’s relationship to his father, to his personal life, and even the scandals that brought down Cohn—but it doesn’t spend enough time exploring any of these to feel like it makes much of a statement. In the end, it also doesn’t seem to tell us anything we don’t know about a subject that has spent much of the last few decades prominently in the public eye.

Despite that, I enjoyed the performances of the leads. Stan is having a strong year and does a nice job of bringing a difficult character to life on screen. But I was more captivated by Strong, who is a force when on screen as Cohn. Their work back-and-forth together was the highlight of the film for me.

Ultimately, The Apprentice will draw plenty who are curious about its subjects—especially during a contentious election cycle. It’s fine, and well crafted, but doesn’t live up to the potential or the seemingly lofty goals laid out by the narrative.

The Apprentice opens nationwide Friday, October 11.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.