The Apprentice: Donald Trump the President-elect tried to get this movie prevented from being shown before the November election took place. I can see why. Showing the life in New York of a younger Trump, he is the second son of his parents, looking to make an impact on the family business. Sebastian Stan plays the young Trump. Although The Apprentice, you may feel makes reference to the Donald Trump TV show where he was famous for saying “you’re fired” to contestants, it more likely refers to Trump learning his business trade from the notorious NY based lawyer Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong. Strong was introduced to a young Trump and helped him along with a couple of sticky situations which utilized questionable ethics in order to allow Trump to deliver on promises that were not otherwise possible. This included the original litigation where Trump’s father, Fred, was being sued do to his business practices in tenant discrimination. Cohn explains his three principals of business which explain a great deal about Trump and how he interacts with the world. These rules include: (1) attack, attack, attack, (2) admit nothing, deny everything, and (3) never admit defeat.

Trump takes these to heart, and even look to add to them. With Cohn’s help early, for which Trump is shown as begging for it, you later see Cohn for whatever reason “liking” Trump and seeing something in him to help work with him. Trump is certainly being shaped by the people with whom he surrounds himself. From a young impressionable guy from a family involved in rental buildings, he has a vision to try and bring New York back from being on the brink of bankruptcy and crime everywhere into transforming into the city that people around the world want to visit. He wants to purchase an older decrepit building downtown and turn it into a luxury hotel. But standing in the way is the City, who is hurting for revenue and needs the taxes collected. The story about how this project is completed tells a lot about the times and the man and his people. He meets Ivanna. The movie certainly characterizes the relationship about being very much a business transaction. Ivanna according to the early meetings was “engaged” but later after a meeting in Colorado, she discusses being with Trump. After a failed attempt at a pre-nuptual agreement orchestrated by Cohn, Trump offers her $75,000 to go through with the wedding just days away. They marry. They have kids. His passion for her fades. Then the infidelity takes place. Later we see Trump looking to develop Atlantic City, with new hotels there, which Cohn feels will over-extend him. Trump begins to relegate Cohn to a lesser important status. His usefulness has passed. Time and again the pattern takes place, and the character of Trump is shown. The way he treats people in deals with him. The way labour isn’t paid. His quest for power and money, all the while seeking easy fixes to his expanding waistline and increasing male pattern baldness in the back of his head.

Sebastian Stan is good in the role as Trump. I think that Jeremy Strong was excellent as Roy Cohn in looks and mannerisms. Both are bullies. The Trump family life to borrow the incoming President’s words “is a disaster” as older brother Fred who is an airline pilot is viewed by the family as a failure, acting as a “bus driver in the sky”. We can only marvel from afar how half of the American eligible voters can believe in this man that he can think of them and try and improve their lives. This movie didn’t suck. I am not sure how much I learned about Trump, although the family life and the relationship with the older brother was a revelation. I feel as though I feed into Trump’s narcissism by watching movies about him. That people constantly talk about him. At least for four more years he will get exactly what he has been seeking. He scoffed earlier as a business person about politicians, and yet he has become the most powerful one in the world.

Wicked: I have seen the musical live production of this play, developed from the book from Gregory Maguire, three times (twice in Toronto and once in New York). I am a big fan. The story is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, the beloved Judy Garland film from 1939. The musical has been on Broadway since June 2003. It won three Tony Awards in 2004, and has grossed $5 Billion, making it the third best grossing Broadway musical of all time behind The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera. Universal bought the rights and has turned it into a two-part movie. Part One is longer than Broadway musical. I was disheartened to read that the movie was turned into two parts. I view this as a money grab, in the same way as splitting The Hobbit into two movies was an unnecessary cash grab. How do they add all this time? More backstory is the answer. There are no new songs in this movie version, although I have to admit that I don’t remember them all upon the viewing being in the play. As for the cast, the two principal female roles are played by Ariana Grande, the singer as Glinda, and then Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Both of these women played their roles, and sang the songs admirably, being true to the origins of the songs. I commend them both for taking these roles on, which cannot be easy to repeat.

The original Broadway cast had Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Idina Menzel as the Tony winning Elphaba. The movie had a very nice touch by having these two reunited as the new pair enter the Emerald City. I really like the play because it involves two strong female characters who learn about true friendship. There are catchy and memorable songs from Stephen Schwartz, with The Wizard and I, I’m Not that Girl, Popular and the titanic Defying Gravity. Part two will have one of my favourite songs For Good. There is an emotional hook in the story with not only the friendship bond for two unexpected friends, but also that family level with Elphaba being shunned by her father, as she grew up in favour of her younger sister. There is guilt and a sense of not belonging and being bullied for the green skinned Elphaba. There are some visually stunning scenes that are not capable on the stage. It is all very bright, vibrant colours. Still, I can’t help but feeling that the story is overblown and bloated. I felt that additional minutes were adding very little, but I also was coming to it from someone who knew the pacing and storyline from the musical. Perhaps that is unfair, and I should judge this on its own. But the additions didn’t add to the enjoyment. At the Golden Globes, despite a number of nominations, the only award received was for the new category of Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. In other words it made a lot of money worldwide. I liked this. It was entertaining. I know where the plot will be going for Part Two, and it will be interesting how they put it on film. The adventure will continue. I do think that one of the most charming stories about this movie adaption is the stories about the audiences attending and then making it a sing-along without prompting. That is how impactful these songs and the story are for people. In times of great uncertainty, and war and political and economic challenges – there is something to be said for bringing forward entertainment that brings people together in song. I hope that it continues to reach people. I saw on the small screen and not the theatre.