Film: The Apprentice

Tonight, the second film night in a row - well, it was looking like Carrie. And showing in the refined surrounds of The Garden Cinema, no less! Of course, I saw that on Saturday, in the end.. but I was very happy with the alternative! The Apprentice is the story of a young Donald Trump, learning his Machiavellian business skills from Roy Cohn. The title is a clever nod to the tv programme Trump was involved in, too. Yes, I thought I'd enjoy this.. showing in my local cinema, the Curzon Aldgate, happily.

I finished a good tranche of work today, and in good time to head out - bus there (and I just missed one, but these are frequent), walk back, was the plan. Because it's just too far to walk to the cinema, but I could eat on the way back. I made the cinema in good time - and as I asked for a ticket, she asked whether I wanted to use one of my free ones! Crikey.. seems I haven't been using those at all! Well, of course, it's been ages since I managed to book online at Curzon - and they haven't been asking, when I bought in the cinema.. so.. Anyway, I said yes please, and saved myself a lot of money.

I tell you two other advantages of this cinema over Curzon Bloomsbury, much as I love it - they have little shelves on the seat arms, so handy to leave your food and drink, and the chocolate was less melted! So now..

Well well, the young Donald Trump, eh! I have to say, Sebastian Stan does a terrific job of portraying him - and indeed, of aging through the course of the film, which runs through the period when he had a mentor (at least, according to the film), the lawyer Roy Cohn: from when he first represented him, in a lawsuit in 1973, to 1986, when Cohn died.

Cohn had a ferocious reputation, and was known for nefarious practices, as well as representing mobsters. The film also attributes to him a mantra that it says Trump subsequently adopted:

1. Attack, attack, attack
2. Always deny, admit nothing
3. Never admit defeat

Yep, certainly sounds like Trump. Well, according to the film, Cohn is the one that taught him all that - and he had Trump's back through a series of lawsuits. (Interestingly, Trump also tried to get this film blocked..) Meantime, we see Trump's initial amazement at what Cohn can get away with turn into an overweening ambition that shocks even Cohn, as Trump starts to build on a lavish scale, overextends himself, marries (Cohn insists on a prenup).. by the time Cohn gets sick and dies, Trump has had quite enough of him, as Cohn congratulates him on having lost his last traces of humanity.

Well, you'd have to admit, he was a good-looking man in his youth - and it's certainly a good depiction of the excess of the 80s; Michael Douglas in Wall Street, with his "greed is good" mantra, had nothing on this guy. Gee, if you didn't know Trump existed, you'd never believe it, he's so over the top.. bigger buildings, brasher buildings, always trying to get away with more.. Trump Tower, with its gold decor.. and as usual, you can follow the period through the women's fashions, particularly his wife, Ivana's, outfiits - the big hair, the shoulder pads, the loud colours..

As we leave the film, Trump is planning his (auto?)biography, The Art of the Deal, and fielding questions about whether he's going to run for office. His response is "Perhaps, if I run out of money.."

An interesting film - but I'm sorry, two hours in the company of Trump - even virtually - left me with a sour taste in my mouth. But anyway, that's that watched..

And so to Cote St. Katharine Docks, where I had no trouble getting a table - some hardy souls were sat on the decking outside, in fact. Service was quick, and I decided to have calamari for starter, since it'll be my last meal out for a while. Gorgeous sauce served with it, and the steak frites was as yummy as ever. I was too stuffed for a dessert. Interestingly, they didn't have my usual wine, so I went for the cheaper Sauvignon Blanc - and discovered I preferred it! Lovely, that'll be a few quid saved when I'm back here in future..

Tomorrow, I'm headed back to Ireland for a long weekend, it being my mother's birthday on Thursday. And would you believe, I can't find a single film that I want to see, and haven't seen, and that's on at a time I can manage! I fly back to London on Sunday - and on Monday, I'm with The Horror Book Club (first time in an age) for an author talk at the Prince of Wales, their usual haunt.

Next Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for A Raisin in the Sun, at the Lyric Hammersmith.

On the 30th, back with The Hideout (and their sister group, Movie Roadhouse) for the Darkness Falls social (I think that's a lovely name). At the BFI, as usual - I'm eating at The Archduke beforehand - and then they tacked on a trip to see Hallowe'en at the end of the night! I've seen it a million times - but hey, it's a classic, I can see it once more!

Hallowe'en itself is always an important night for me to plan - I had dreadful trouble this year finding something, though. But now, London Social Detours has finally posted something for the day - a lunchtime talk about the World's Weirdest Deaths (happening at the Guildhall Library), followed by a mini horror walk, followed by a trip to the Crosse Keys. I've booked it, and booked the time off work.. wanted to wait until I had a good reason.

That evening, the London Irish Centre have a showing of the first ever Irish language horror film, An Taibhse (The Ghost)! So, I've booked for that too.. Eating beforehand in The Blues Kitchen Camden. So I'll have to watch my time with the Crosse Keys..

Now, with Hallowe'en on a Thursday.. and me taking it off.. well, I said it'd be a shame not to take the Friday off too! So I am. Which leaves me free to join Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies on a walk about The Wonderful Women of Westminster!

That evening - just like the last time I was on a walk with them - I'm joining The Hideout; on the 1st, it's Heretic, with the (very polite) scary guy played by Hugh Grant, of all people! He apparently finds a new way to deal with Mormons calling at his door..

And on the 2nd, I've sign up with Cultureseekers, who are doing a Haunted London Treasure Hunt, in Holborn.. bonus points if you wear something scary..