(15), 122mins
HE is one of the most divisive characters in the world, but how did Donald Trump become the man he is today?
It would seem he copied it from someone else. That someone was lawyer Roy Cohn.
One dark night in the late 1970s a young, naive wannabe businessman, Trump (Sebastian Stan), meets Cohn (Jeremy Strong) in an underground nightclub full of the top movers and shakers in New York.
Trump is entranced by Cohn, with his cold stare, flat tone and relentless cut-throat ambition. He wants to be just like him.
He soon asks for guidance from the top lawyer on some legal issues his dad’s business is having with the government. They don’t like the way Trump senior is overtly racist by not renting to black people.
He also wants to get some building projects off the ground, including his radical super-skyscraper, Trump Towers. Cohn negotiates for him on both — and wins.
Most think Trump is a bad joke in an even worse suit, but Cohn sees the potential in him, taking him under his wing.
He teaches him the tricks of the trade, which involves a lot of bribery and blackmail.
As Trump’s success rises to meteoric heights, so does his ego.
He stops at nothing to get what he wants.
That includes his first wife, Ivana (Maria Bakalova) who he woos with expensive gifts and luxury holidays.
You watch as she goes from admiring him to despising him.
But director Ali Abbasi and writer Gary Sherman are careful not to just paint Trump and Cohn as unrelenting bullies.
They’re far more human than that and cliché tropes are avoided.
While they are, undoubtedly, monsters in their own field, they also have to deal with real life: a sudden death in the family and terminal illness.
Trump shows himself to be the more emotionally stunted of the two, with even Cohn — who is close to the devil himself — being shocked by his lack of empathy.
The cinematography is spectacular, with incredible 70s and 80s detail — it often feels like watching a grainy documentary.
Trump morphs into the hairspray-loving, perma-orange glow of the man he is today.
The Apprentice is a masterclass in storytelling, with both Stan and Strong giving the performances of their career.
Watch and learn.
Alana Haim is cast to star in a new film alongside Zendaya.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl sees Wallace invent a ‘smart gnome’ that develops an evil mind of its own.
Martin Scorsese has produced a documentary on The Beatles for Disney+
(18) 127mins
POP sensation Skye Riley is preparing for her world tour, but she begins experiencing terrifying paranormal events.
Overwhelmed, Skye (Naomi Scott) must confront her painful past as she sinks into a darkness that threatens to consume her.
Smile 2 cranks up the horror dial with even more blood, guts and jump scares than the first one from 2022.
Director Parker Finn pulls no punches in this nightmare-fuelled sequel, taking us on a ride that’s even more intense and disturbing.
Scott ditches her Disney roots for a wild, hair-raising perform-ance – think Taylor Swift on acid.
She spirals into madness as she encounters some seriously freaky supernatural forces.
But the film feels at times a bit too showy, with tricks and tech-niques borrowed from far superior horror offerings – the repeated upside down camera shots are lifted straight out of 2019’s Mid-sommar.
Besides Scott, there are decent performances from Lukas Gage as drug dealer Lewis and a hugely impressive turn from Ray Nicholson – son of Jack – as Skye’s former boyfriend Paul.
This is a perfectly serviceable sequel, but it’s just nothing special.
(U) 102mins
FILMMAKER, voice actor and animator Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, The Call Of The Wild) returns with this exciting adventure from the DreamWorks studios.
Adapted from Peter Brown’s novel of the same name, The Wild Robot features a star-studded voice cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy and Heartstopper’s Kit Connor.
The story follows Roz (Nyong’o), a robot stranded on a deserted island who accidentally causes the demise of a family of geese.
So she adopts the sole surviving gosling, Brightbill (Connor).
With the help of cunning fox Fink (Pascal), Roz must navigate the challenges of the wild and protect her new charge from dangers.
Sanders knocks it out of the park with a thrilling and heartwarming adaptation that’s packed with action and laughs.
The movie tackles big themes like family and identity, and delivers stunning visuals and sharp storytelling.
Nyong’o shines as Roz, while Pascal’s sly take on Fink adds plenty of charm and humour. Connor as Brightbill delivers heart and a whole load of teenage angst.
It’s emotional and exciting – and it’s impossible not to fall in love with its positive outlook.
SHOPPERS are racing to get their hands on Christmas stationary perfect for stocking filler from The Works – and items start from just £1.
A thrifty shopper took to Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK to share the bargains.
The post read: “The Works Christmas items from £1 – in store and online”.
Along with the post was a picture showing four different items from the range – including a bouncing putty for £1.50 and a pack of festive rubbers for just £1.
Festive item also include a glow in the dark squishy for just £2 and a light up yoyo for £1.
Delighted Facebook users planned trips to the discount retailer to nab the affordable stocking filler.
One wrote: “The elf’s first little gifts”, while another wrote: “cute for stockings”.
A different account commented: “Some good little bits for my Christmas Eve box”, and one was particularly keen on “the cute rubbers”.
And one thanked the original poster for sharing the bargain: “Thank you Just got these for my kids as stocking fillers.”
The Works describes its light up yoyo as a “bright and colourful flashing festive themed yoyo that is sure to provide hours of fun for both children and adults.”
Its pack of five 3D rubbers are shaped like Christmas trees, snowmen, and gifts.
And the “soft and stretchy” Christmas bouncing putty is “perfect for moulding, squishing, and bouncing into fun shapes”.
Last but not least is the glow in the dark squishy which for £2, offers some festive excitement for tots across the country.
Head to The Works’ website to check out their full Christmas range so far.
It comes just months after the budget kids retailer was flogging a set of football-themed stationery from just a pound.
The Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group shared the bargain deal stating: “Football Stationery From £1 At The Works.”
Parents were quick to rush to the comments and share the deal.
One mum said on social: “Look at these!”
A second commented: “Fold out stationery set online.”
Another pointed out the bits could be perfect for Christmas and posted: “Stocking fillers!”
A fourth wrote: “Need to go in, footy things!”
While a fifth said: “Love it all!”
CONSUMER reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you’re not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you’ve got the stamina and budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you’re not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
KAMALA Harris offered Americans a “fundamentally flawed” sales pitch during her “train wreck” Fox interview – and America can’t afford four years of it, a political commentator has warned.
Speaking to The U.S. Sun, commentator Gianno Caldwell questioned what Harris has been doing for the past four years as President Joe Biden‘s Vice President.
He was speaking after Harris’ appearance with Fox News’ Bret Baier in a 30-minute prime-time segment on Special Report.
“Kamala Harris used every attempt to dodge Bret Baier’s questions and clearly showed she isn’t a presidential candidate who will serve with conviction and honesty,” he said.
“Her sales pitch to the American people is fundamentally flawed.”
Caldwell, a Chicago-born Political Analyst at Fox News, challenged Harris’ claims in her interview that her presidency would represent a break from that of President Biden.
“If she has all of these great ideas, why hasn’t she implemented them over the last three-plus years?” he asked.
And he brought up her failure to address the major issues facing America – including the economy and immigration – as a sign that she isn’t ready to move to the White House.
“Her attempts before millions of Americans failed to show a vision for Americans who are suffering over an economy, border, or inflation she created as a partner with Joe Biden or her tie-breaking vote for the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan,” he said.
“Democrat economists warned her it would cause inflation, and it did.
“That’s who Kamala Harris is and would govern as President.
“We cannot afford that as a country,” he added.
The interview with Fox News’ Baier was one of Harris’ toughest yet, after a series of media appearances seen by many as overly friendly.
Following accusations the Democratic presidential nominee was avoiding the media, Harris made appearances on the Call Her Daddy podcast, The Howard Stern Show, and The View.
She also guzzled beer with Stephen Colbert on the comedian’s Late Show, as she branded her Republican challenger Donald Trump a “loser.”
In contrast, Harris was put on the back foot from the start by Baier, after her interviewer asked her about the number of migrants who have entered the US illegally since the start of the Biden administration.
Baier also accused Harris of not responding to questions and pivoting on answers, with the pair often talking over each other.
With the polls neck-and-neck, and the country more divided than ever before, Baier asked Harris what she made of the fact so many Americans support former President Trump.
“Are they stupid?” he asked.
“Oh God, I would never say that about the American people,” Harris responded.
Instead, she said, it was her opponent Trump “who tends to demean and belittle and diminish the American people.”
Baier pressed Harris on the Biden administration’s ending of a Trump-era policy that forced potential asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico to wait for the results of their US immigration cases.
Harris also apologized for the deaths of three young women allegedly killed by illegal immigrants.
“Jocelyn Nungaray, Rachel Morin, Laken Riley, they are young women who were brutally assaulted and killed by some of the men who were released at the beginning of the administration, well before a negotiated bi-partisan bill,” Baier said.
“This was well before any negotiation. This was well before Donald Trump got involved in any of the politics. This is a specific policy decision by your administration to release these men into the country.
“So what I am saying to you is, do you owe those families an apology?”
“I can’t imagine the pain that the families of those victims have experienced for a loss that should not have occurred,” Harris said, before blaming Donald Trump for pressuring Republicans in Congress to block a border security bill ahead of the election.
Baier brought up a clip from Harris’ appearance on The View during which she said there was nothing she would have done differently from Biden in the last four years.
But Harris insisted that her presidency “would not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s.”
She also noted that, as a California-based prosecutor, she had not spent the majority of her career in Washington DC, unlike her predecessor.
There was another awkward moment for Harris when Baier brought up Biden’s removal from the ballot following his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.
Renowned historian Allan Lichtman has accurately predicted the outcomes of presidential elections since 1984 using his 13 Keys to the White House algorithm. The scholar has revealed who he thinks will be inaugurated as the 47th president in January next year based on his system of true and false statements.
If six or more statements go against the White House party, they are projected to lose the presidential election.
Midterm elections: The Democrats suffered losses in the 2022 House elections, meaning the key turns false. (Harris 0-1 Trump)
There is no primary contest: This key turns in favor of Harris because the Democrats got “smart” and rallied behind the vice president after Joe Biden ended his campaign, according to Lichtman. (Harris 1-1 Trump)
The sitting president is seeking another term: This turns false because Biden suspended his re-election campaign. (Harris 1-2 Trump)
There is no third-party challenger: This statement is true because third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. needed to poll at 10% nationally, according to Lichtman. (Harris 2-2 Trump)
The short-term economy is strong: This key goes in favor of the White House Party. (Harris 3-2 Trump)
The long-term economic growth has been as good as the last two terms: This key also swings toward Harris. (Harris 4-2 Trump)
The White House Party has made major national policy changes: This key is also true, according to Lichtman’s theory. (Harris 5-2 Trump)
There is sustained social unrest during the term: College campus demonstrations have erupted in reaction to the Gaza conflict, but no protests have broken out that threaten the fabric of society. This means the key goes in Harris’ column. (Harris 6-2 Trump)
The White House is untainted by scandal: Despite House Republican efforts to impeach Joe Biden, they have been unable to pin a scandal on him. (Harris 7-2 Trump)
The incumbent is charismatic: Harris is not considered a Ronald Reagan or Franklin D. Roosevelt-like figure so the key is false. (Harris 7-3 Trump)
The challenger is uncharismatic: This key goes in favor of the White House party – even though Trump is a showman. (Harris 8-3 Trump)
Lichtman warned that the two foreign policy keys – whether there has been a major success or no failure – could flip either way.
But, even if both statements flipped against Harris, Trump would not have enough keys in his column to win the election.
Baier asked the veep when she first saw that Biden’s “mental facilities appeared diminished.”
Harris responded by defending the president, saying, “he has the judgment and experience to do exactly what he has done in making very important decisions on behalf of the American people.”
But she added that Biden isn’t on the ballot, while Trump is.
Baier gave his thoughts on how the interview went on Thursday.
He claimed that Harris had arrived 15 minutes late, and just 45 minutes before the interview was due to be broadcast.
“I could tell when we started talking that she was going to be tough to redirect without me trying to interrupt,” he said.
He also claimed that Harris’ team had tried to cut the interview short, signaling that his time was up.
“I’m talking, like, four people waving their hands like it’s got to stop,” he said.
He also admitted to a “frustration” at not having time to ask Harris all the questions he wanted, but insisted she was welcome to come back when she was in a “different, talkative mood.”