I saw the film recently in Massachusetts (in a purplish town in a very blue state). The audience numbered 3. As I walked out I heard one of the two women in front of me say to the other "I don't think it will change anybody's mind". It's playing in several theaters in the area, just 1 or 2 showings a day in each case, I think.
If you're into Trump because you hope he can deliver retribution, and you go watch a movie that shows how he's been shaped into an instrument of retribution. . .I don't see that changing your mind.
I was already pretty familiar with the Cohn/Trump relationship, having read a number of articles over the years. I did pick up some new pieces, especially around Ivana, whom I hadn't really followed. I've seen Angels in America about a half-dozen times (the Broadway road show, the HBO version, the London theatrical version broadcast to American theatres, the opera and several local theatrical productions). It was interesting seeing the difference between the way Kushner's dialog portrayed Cohn and the way the dialog in The Apprentice did.
Just a little plug for Angels in America (from June of 2016(: https://www.slate.com/articles/arts/cover_story/2016/06/oral_history_of_tony_kushner_s_play_angels_in_america.html ". . .Twenty-five years ago this summer, Tony Kushner’s Angels in America premiered in the tiny Eureka Theatre in San Francisco’s Mission District. Within two years it had won the Pulitzer Prize and begun a New York run that would dominate the Tony Awards two years in a row, revitalize the nonmusical play on Broadway, and change the way gay lives were represented in pop culture. . ."
I saw the movie yesterday afternoon in Apple Valley, Minnesota with two friends. There were only five of us in the theatre. I heard of Roy Cohn but didn't know much about him. His was the best actor in my opinion. What an evil man. It was interesting to see Trump as a young, niave and sheltered rich kid evolve in to Roy, Jr. I noticed how much Trump was fixing his hair. A major fixation. The movie ended with him getting liposuction and scalp surgery to remove the start of a bald spot. If he ever sees the movie, those two things will drive him out of his gourd more than everything else.
I recall an article about The Cohn influence on Trump during his 2016 run - I think it was Vanity Fair - which was revealing in disturbing detail. I knew of Roy Cohn, but surprised by his association with Trump. Best quote from Cohn after Trump dumped him at the end: "Donald Trump pisses ice water." At the time on you, Roy - now on all of us, and every day.
For those of us who grew up in the 1950s, especially if you lived in the NYC area, we learned about McCarthy and so also Roy Cohn. And later on - when he become a well known fixer in NYC.. he was seen in photos at various night spots.
I was waiting for you to weigh in on this film. I read an interview with Jeremy Strong in the Times of London yesterday and found the premise and seeming direction of the film interesting. Everyone knows everything there is to know about Trump but I think few understand the pivotal role of Roy Cohn on 20th century America.
As a homosexual without children he passed his malignancy on to a number of apprentices beside Trump including Roger Stone, Alan Dershowitz, and indirectly Rudy Giuliani and others.
My favorite depiction up to this point has been his portrayal in "Angels in America" haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg as he dies from AIDS.
Man, I'd love to imagine that Roy Cohn was "haunted," or regretful, or miserable on his deathbed, or even (or especially) that' he's now burning in hell. Or that, generally, that there's payback in this life or the next for malice like Cohn's. Of course there isn't, which is why I didn't like Angels in America. I don't believe in angels, and don't care to see them even as a plot device.
Great job, Sonny. I have long thought Roy Cohn to be one of the most vile creatures to walk this earth. During the last part of the interview, I could not stop thinking about the chances of anyone involved with this movie being harrassed.
Saw it yesterday after listening to the Sunny Bunch recording. There was no advertising, no posters in the lobby. Had to ask the popcorn guy if it was showing. There was one other couple in the theater. People didn't know it was there, didn't understand what it was about (his TV show, right?). Ray who? The movie itself was too kind to Trump when you compare to Mary L Trump's book "How Could Anyone Love You?" Frightening.
I went and watched this today in Houston, a Saturday matinee. The total audience in the theater was around 10. As far as the politics of it, it only slightly tempered my deep wish to support Trump. It hurts that Trump wasn't nicer to Cohn.
I once heard someone describe Donald Trump as Roy Cohn without the loyalty. I've been trying to dig up the source of the quote, but search engines are hinting to me it may be available only in audio. It certainly parallels a lot of remarks you can find about Cohn and Trump
I used to work on a Pete Seeger sloop, The Woody Guthrie. He was a great conversationalist. One day, while discussing a grant for deck repairs, I went on a tangent and brought up his 1955 HUAC hearing, where he invoked the 1st amendment. As a result of not cooperating with the committee, he was sentenced to a year in prison, but he appealed and won. Pete went on a 1 hour rant that day about J. Edgar Hoover, McCarthy, and Cohn. He loathed Roy Cohn, and thought him beneath contempt. I can't wait to see this film.
Sunny, there are a whole lot of people who can’t go to theaters. I wish you had discussed the streaming issues, and how we might be able to put pressure on platforms. I don’t think Bezos is afraid of Trump.
Rule #1: Do Not Obey in Advance <- from a recent Asha Rangappa post on substack.
Based on the WaPo thing, I'd say Bezos is afraid of Trump. Like Cohn, Trump is bigly into retribution. Tech bros in general (with a few exceptions) are positioning themselves to be ready for a Trump administration. Tech bros who have earlier said they detest Trump are giving his campaign/PACs millions - not because they want him to be president, but because they don't want to be at a commercial, legal and regulatory disadvantage if he becomes president. Based on Tim Miller's interviews, some of these guys would probably be happier with a Harris presidency, but feel some need to buy protection from the Trump racket.
Of course, Trump is not the real issue. He could (and would) do very little by himself (he doesn't like to get his hands dirty). He relies on fixers and on opportunists who share his transactional nature - these people enable him. And at the political level, he relies on tens of millions of American voters who think a Trump presidency is a good idea - or perhaps better than a Harris presidency, often basing their opinions on exaggerations, distortions and lies.
There are, undoubtedly, some people who “can’t” go to theaters. Unfortunately, the economics of film don’t really work without some theatrical window. Fortunately, the people who do not want to watch it in theaters will be able to watch it on VOD in some period of time.
Please donate to Harris/Walz TODAY, as much as you can. They have a huge ground operation -- they have to, given her late entry -- and we want to support them in finishing strong, LFG.
My husband and I watched this film at a cinema yesterday (Friday) at noon. We live in a very red area and were surprised that we were NOT only folks in the theater -- especially at mid-day on a Friday!
The film itself is uneven in terms of production (you can see where the budget was primarily focused) but the acting, writing, and direction are spectacular. Jeremy Strong seems to literally ooze from his pores as Roy Cohn, and Sebastian Stan's protrayal of Trump is extremely nuanced; you see his progression from a flawed but recognizeably human, ambitious young man, to the monster he ultimately became, with mannerisms, tics and speech patterns arriving gradually but without devolving into an SNL impersonation. Maria Bakalova is also wonderful as Ivana. Perfectly cast.
After listening to the depressing future ahead for all of us, it appears that making a film regarding a President's torturous pathway to fame and fortune is Exhibit "A" - Timothy Snyder's 2017 "On Tyranny" published guide to show what happens when the plumbing of American government goes bad. I am amazed that "The Apprentice is not at least available online now, and it appears that is because of fear of reprisal so eloquently mentioned in this interview. How un-American. But there it is. As T. Snyder would comment, "If none of us is ready to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny" - a sure-fire and shameful end to a fabled national experiment (Chapter. 20, "Be as Courageous as you can").
I saw the film recently in Massachusetts (in a purplish town in a very blue state). The audience numbered 3. As I walked out I heard one of the two women in front of me say to the other "I don't think it will change anybody's mind". It's playing in several theaters in the area, just 1 or 2 showings a day in each case, I think.
If you're into Trump because you hope he can deliver retribution, and you go watch a movie that shows how he's been shaped into an instrument of retribution. . .I don't see that changing your mind.
I was already pretty familiar with the Cohn/Trump relationship, having read a number of articles over the years. I did pick up some new pieces, especially around Ivana, whom I hadn't really followed. I've seen Angels in America about a half-dozen times (the Broadway road show, the HBO version, the London theatrical version broadcast to American theatres, the opera and several local theatrical productions). It was interesting seeing the difference between the way Kushner's dialog portrayed Cohn and the way the dialog in The Apprentice did.
Just a little plug for Angels in America (from June of 2016(: https://www.slate.com/articles/arts/cover_story/2016/06/oral_history_of_tony_kushner_s_play_angels_in_america.html ". . .Twenty-five years ago this summer, Tony Kushner’s Angels in America premiered in the tiny Eureka Theatre in San Francisco’s Mission District. Within two years it had won the Pulitzer Prize and begun a New York run that would dominate the Tony Awards two years in a row, revitalize the nonmusical play on Broadway, and change the way gay lives were represented in pop culture. . ."
I saw the movie yesterday afternoon in Apple Valley, Minnesota with two friends. There were only five of us in the theatre. I heard of Roy Cohn but didn't know much about him. His was the best actor in my opinion. What an evil man. It was interesting to see Trump as a young, niave and sheltered rich kid evolve in to Roy, Jr. I noticed how much Trump was fixing his hair. A major fixation. The movie ended with him getting liposuction and scalp surgery to remove the start of a bald spot. If he ever sees the movie, those two things will drive him out of his gourd more than everything else.
I recall an article about The Cohn influence on Trump during his 2016 run - I think it was Vanity Fair - which was revealing in disturbing detail. I knew of Roy Cohn, but surprised by his association with Trump. Best quote from Cohn after Trump dumped him at the end: "Donald Trump pisses ice water." At the time on you, Roy - now on all of us, and every day.
For those of us who grew up in the 1950s, especially if you lived in the NYC area, we learned about McCarthy and so also Roy Cohn. And later on - when he become a well known fixer in NYC.. he was seen in photos at various night spots.
I was waiting for you to weigh in on this film. I read an interview with Jeremy Strong in the Times of London yesterday and found the premise and seeming direction of the film interesting. Everyone knows everything there is to know about Trump but I think few understand the pivotal role of Roy Cohn on 20th century America.
As a homosexual without children he passed his malignancy on to a number of apprentices beside Trump including Roger Stone, Alan Dershowitz, and indirectly Rudy Giuliani and others.
My favorite depiction up to this point has been his portrayal in "Angels in America" haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg as he dies from AIDS.
A type of poetic justice.
Man, I'd love to imagine that Roy Cohn was "haunted," or regretful, or miserable on his deathbed, or even (or especially) that' he's now burning in hell. Or that, generally, that there's payback in this life or the next for malice like Cohn's. Of course there isn't, which is why I didn't like Angels in America. I don't believe in angels, and don't care to see them even as a plot device.
Great job, Sonny. I have long thought Roy Cohn to be one of the most vile creatures to walk this earth. During the last part of the interview, I could not stop thinking about the chances of anyone involved with this movie being harrassed.
Saw it yesterday afternoon. It was very well done.
Saw it yesterday after listening to the Sunny Bunch recording. There was no advertising, no posters in the lobby. Had to ask the popcorn guy if it was showing. There was one other couple in the theater. People didn't know it was there, didn't understand what it was about (his TV show, right?). Ray who? The movie itself was too kind to Trump when you compare to Mary L Trump's book "How Could Anyone Love You?" Frightening.
I went and watched this today in Houston, a Saturday matinee. The total audience in the theater was around 10. As far as the politics of it, it only slightly tempered my deep wish to support Trump. It hurts that Trump wasn't nicer to Cohn.
I once heard someone describe Donald Trump as Roy Cohn without the loyalty. I've been trying to dig up the source of the quote, but search engines are hinting to me it may be available only in audio. It certainly parallels a lot of remarks you can find about Cohn and Trump
Well, when Donald Trump is "done" with someone he just dumps them or throws then under the bus which ever suits his purposes.
And never forget that everything Trump touches dies.
That's one of the ways that Roy Cohn was a lot better, right?
I used to work on a Pete Seeger sloop, The Woody Guthrie. He was a great conversationalist. One day, while discussing a grant for deck repairs, I went on a tangent and brought up his 1955 HUAC hearing, where he invoked the 1st amendment. As a result of not cooperating with the committee, he was sentenced to a year in prison, but he appealed and won. Pete went on a 1 hour rant that day about J. Edgar Hoover, McCarthy, and Cohn. He loathed Roy Cohn, and thought him beneath contempt. I can't wait to see this film.
Sunny, there are a whole lot of people who can’t go to theaters. I wish you had discussed the streaming issues, and how we might be able to put pressure on platforms. I don’t think Bezos is afraid of Trump.
Rule #1: Do Not Obey in Advance <- from a recent Asha Rangappa post on substack.
Based on the WaPo thing, I'd say Bezos is afraid of Trump. Like Cohn, Trump is bigly into retribution. Tech bros in general (with a few exceptions) are positioning themselves to be ready for a Trump administration. Tech bros who have earlier said they detest Trump are giving his campaign/PACs millions - not because they want him to be president, but because they don't want to be at a commercial, legal and regulatory disadvantage if he becomes president. Based on Tim Miller's interviews, some of these guys would probably be happier with a Harris presidency, but feel some need to buy protection from the Trump racket.
Of course, Trump is not the real issue. He could (and would) do very little by himself (he doesn't like to get his hands dirty). He relies on fixers and on opportunists who share his transactional nature - these people enable him. And at the political level, he relies on tens of millions of American voters who think a Trump presidency is a good idea - or perhaps better than a Harris presidency, often basing their opinions on exaggerations, distortions and lies.
There are, undoubtedly, some people who “can’t” go to theaters. Unfortunately, the economics of film don’t really work without some theatrical window. Fortunately, the people who do not want to watch it in theaters will be able to watch it on VOD in some period of time.
More commonly it isn't playing within a 90 minute drive !
Yeah, the economics of theaters outside major cities don't really work as they used to.
Please donate to Harris/Walz TODAY, as much as you can. They have a huge ground operation -- they have to, given her late entry -- and we want to support them in finishing strong, LFG.
My husband and I watched this film at a cinema yesterday (Friday) at noon. We live in a very red area and were surprised that we were NOT only folks in the theater -- especially at mid-day on a Friday!
The film itself is uneven in terms of production (you can see where the budget was primarily focused) but the acting, writing, and direction are spectacular. Jeremy Strong seems to literally ooze from his pores as Roy Cohn, and Sebastian Stan's protrayal of Trump is extremely nuanced; you see his progression from a flawed but recognizeably human, ambitious young man, to the monster he ultimately became, with mannerisms, tics and speech patterns arriving gradually but without devolving into an SNL impersonation. Maria Bakalova is also wonderful as Ivana. Perfectly cast.
After listening to the depressing future ahead for all of us, it appears that making a film regarding a President's torturous pathway to fame and fortune is Exhibit "A" - Timothy Snyder's 2017 "On Tyranny" published guide to show what happens when the plumbing of American government goes bad. I am amazed that "The Apprentice is not at least available online now, and it appears that is because of fear of reprisal so eloquently mentioned in this interview. How un-American. But there it is. As T. Snyder would comment, "If none of us is ready to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny" - a sure-fire and shameful end to a fabled national experiment (Chapter. 20, "Be as Courageous as you can").
This conversation is fascinating. Thank you so much!
I went to the movie Fri night. It's a very entertaining film - good origin story for which we are all witness to the final product 30-40 years later.