In this week’s Criticize This! we take a look at a biopic about Trump’s early years, a movie based on a real-life serial killer who went on ‘The Dating Game’, and a film that attempts to capture the chaos of the very first ‘Saturday Night Live’ broadcast.

THE BIG ONE

We were on the fence about The Apprentice and had mixed feelings about seeing it. Not because it’s about Donald Trump, but because of all the people who’ve impersonated him in the past few years Sebastian Stan seemed very miscast. Boy, were we wrong!

The Apprentice is not about the Donald Trump that was President of the United States and it’s not about his former reality show of the same name. No, it’s about the Trump that no one knew in the ’70s and how he became one of New York’s biggest real estate developers in the ’80s after being guided by ruthless lawyer Roy Cohn (amazingly portrayed by Jeremy Strong).

In this era of Trump, Stan’s version of him is spot on, and seeing him change throughout the movie the way Trump did as he got older and more powerful is some fine acting. Maria Bakalova also does a great job playing his first wife, Ivana, but it’s Strong that is the highlight of the film. This is Kendall Roy (his character on the HBO show Succession) amped up to 11!

While Trump and his supporters have unsurprisingly denounced the film, critics are mostly praising it, and it’s got a decent 79% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing.

“These two men are reprehensible human beings, but the performances somehow find emotion in this twisted dynamic between two evil men,” Robert Kojder wrote about it on Flickering Myth.

“The Apprentice does not really explain Donald Trump as a psychiatric or political phenomenon, it justifies its existence as pitch dark comedy with some terrific performances and a reminder that even the Orange Menace was once someone’s darling boy,” Liam Lacey wrote in his review on Original Cin.

Most of the detractors of the film can’t separate their feelings on the Trump of today, and most are American (which makes sense given the upcoming U.S. election).

“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to go out and see a movie about him. I hate having to hear his voice every day, and deeply resent being forced to think about Donald Trump more often than I get the chance to think about certain friends and family members,” Sean Burns said about the movie on WBUR News.

“All told, the film’s a rather soft headshot of the worst American alive,” Michael Atkinson wrote on LA Weekly.

Our take: If you enjoyed movies and shows like The Wolf of Wall Street, Wall Street, Succession, or The Big Short, also starring Strong, The Apprentice falls into that genre and delivers a great glimpse into the creation of the monster Trump is today.

The Apprentice is now playing in select theatres across Canada.

IN THEATRES

Woman of the Hour

Woman of the Hour tells the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala, who, after he had already raped and murdered multiple women, went on ‘The Dating Game’ in 1978.

This is Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut and it’s not what you would expect from the actress, who has mostly worked in comedies.

The movie has some very dark moments, but never goes far enough to turn the viewer off. Kendrick also stars as the contestant on the game show who gets to choose one of the eligible men to date, and does a great job in the role.

Daniel Zovatto (It Follows, Don’t Breathe) is very unsettling as Alcala and he definitely left an impression on us. But the standout was newcomer Autumn Best as one of Alcala’s victims. She’s only in the film briefly, but she made us feel everything she was going through in that short time.

WATCH: Trailer for Woman of the Hour

The movie, which had its World Premiere at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival, currently has an amazing 91% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many applauding Kendrick’s first go from behind-the-camera.

“Anna Kendrick makes a sensational, but never sensationalized directorial debut with the taut true crime thriller Woman of the Hour, which looks at institutional misogyny through the lens of a true crime story,” Richard Crouse wrote in his review.

Aaron White said on the Feelin’ Film Podcast that Kendrick “brings her signature charm and wit in front of the camera, and shows incredible command behind it in this tense, funny, and scathingly direct look at the dangers and objectification women face.”

“Working with multiple storylines with contrasting tones, Kendrick seamlessly blends pitch-black comedy and thriller elements in a tightly told 89-minute film that moves with purpose and creeping dread,”  Lauren Cohen wrote on Next Best Picture.

None of the negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes had anything of value to highlight, so we’re not even going to mention them (we also really liked this movie and just want people to see it).

Woman of the Hour is now playing in theatres across Canada.

Saturday Night

Jason Reitman brings the chaotic anxiety of the first ‘Saturday Night Live’ broadcast to the big screen in Saturday Night, which is opening in theatres on the 50th anniversary of the show (October 11).

The movie currently has an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes with a solid 92% audience rating. It also has a strong 7.3 out of 10 on the IMDb.

“An energetic film that dives into the chaotic genius and creative genesis of what would become one of television’s most iconic shows,” Louisa Moore wrote on Screen Zealots.

WATCH: Trailer for Saturday Night

“If you want history, go read one of the SNL books. What you go to this film for is energy, which Saturday Night has in abundance,” Matt Singer wrote in his review.

Just like the TV show itself, there are many who dislike the movie. The best negative review comes from Chase Hutchinson at in The Inlander.

“It’s just a slick hagiography poorly masquerading as a madcap comedy. Much like the modern SNL, it may get credit from some for doing OK impersonations, but there’s nothing else on its mind. If there’s a joke, it’s on us for watching and hoping for more.”

Saturday Night is now in wide release across Canada.

Also in theatres this week: The LEGO-animated Pharrell Williams biopic Piece by Piece.

TOP BOX OFFICE

1. Joker: Folie à Deux
2. The Wild Robot
3. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
   

STREAMING

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (VOD)

Everyone involved in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice knew the task at hand and delivered a sequel very true to the vibe of the original. Even if at times it might feel like there’s too much going on, it always seems to boomerang back to being a perfect Beetlejuice movie.

While watching we couldn’t believe that Michael Keaton is now in his 70s (!!). He’s still got the same energy playing the character that he had in his 30s the first time around, and he’s still just as fun to watch.

The pairing of Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega as mother-daughter is also perfect (kudos to the casting director on that one). And as always, Catharine O’Hara steals every scene she’s in.

WATCH: Trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

The movie has a 77% critics score with an 80% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also has a 7 out of 10 on the IMDb.

One of the most spot-on reviews comes from Tim Brennan on About Boulder.

“If you liked the original, I reckon you’ll still probably have a pretty good time with this one. It’s your typical sequel that’s bigger, louder, and dumber than the original, but once in a while, it does something unexpected and wild.”

Like the original, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a movie we can see ourselves watching multiple times. We might even have a second helping of it with family this Thanksgiving weekend.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now available on VOD platforms.

Also streaming this week: The romantic drama Lonely Planet is on Netflix, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die and The Strangers: Chapter 1 are on Crave, Daddy’s Head is on Shudder, and The Silent Hour, Never Let Go, Mother Father Sister Brother Frank, and Hellboy: The Crooked Man are all on VOD.

COMING SOON

If Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown is half as good as he appears in the trailer, he and the movie could be cleaning up at the Oscars next year! We’ll know for sure when it hits theatres on Christmas Day.

Check out the trailer for A Complete Unknown on our YouTube channel and let us know what you think?

ON DISC

Continuing our recommendations of movies worth buying on physical media for spooky season, we were lucky enough to get an advance copy of the 40th anniversary release of A Nightmare on Elm Street on 4K Blu-ray.

If you are a Freddy Krueger fan, there is no question that you should own this release! The 4K transfer, especially during the darker scenes, is absolutely stunning, and the Dolby Atmos TrueHD sound mix really amps the terror factor up.

The disc comes with the theatrical and uncut versions of the movie (the uncut version is not that exciting as it’s only eight seconds longer), and has a bunch of special features, including alternate endings, multiple commentary tracks, the documentary ‘Never Sleep Again: A Nightmare on Elm Street’, and more.

The 40th anniversary 4K Blu-ray for A Nightmare on Elm Street will be available on Tuesday, October 15. You can pre-order it now on Amazon.ca for $39.99.

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