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He’s known for his celebrity feuds, his reality TV show, and his infamous comb-over—but Donald Trump is still, first and foremost, a businessman. The billionaire real estate developer has his hands in projects around the world—resorts, high-rises, casinos, and more—and he has no qualms about stepping on a few toes to get what he wants.
Director Anthony Baxter’s You’ve Been Trumped offers a closer look at one of Trump’s latest projects—the Trump International Golf Links outside Aberdeen in Scotland—and the people whose lives the project affected.
When the project was first announced, it drew criticism from residents and politicians alike. It wasn’t long, however, before the proposal was passed and construction was underway, while local residents’ protests were met with demands and personal attacks.
Through archive footage and interviews, You’ve Been Trumped explores offers a little bit of history on both the area and the project, while introducing viewers to the people who live in the neighboring homes. From time to time, Baxter also steps in front of the camera, traveling to the building site to do some investigating of his own, which is met with threats and even jail time.
Of course, if you know anything at all about Donald Trump, you probably already know that he’s a ruthless businessman—the kind of guy who won’t let anybody stand in his way. So the threats and bullying and personal attacks won’t come as much of a surprise. In fact, not much of You’ve Been Trumped is especially surprising.
Meanwhile, in his directorial debut, Baxter takes a simple, straightforward approach to filmmaking. The film isn’t flashy or witty, with fancy graphics or wacky characters. It isn’t in-your-face or controversial. And it doesn’t make wild claims or shocking accusations. In fact, it doesn’t tell much of a story—nor does it make much of a point. It’s just a look at an extremely rich man and his latest plan to get even richer—even if it means disturbing natural habitats and throwing people out of their homes.
Really, there’s nothing wrong with Baxter’s plain and simple style; people make documentaries this way every day. Still, Baxter is no Michael Moore. He’s no Morgan Spurlock, either. He’s rather subdued and laid-back, with a filmmaking style to match. And although Trump’s battle with the local people is intriguing, the unsurprising subject matter—along with Baxter’s rather dry style—doesn’t make for an especially captivating film. It doesn’t have any kind of ah-ha moment, and it isn’t particularly entertaining.
You’ve Been Trumped is a no-nonsense reminder that Donald Trump is more than just a loud-mouthed TV star with a bad hairdo—and if you want to take a brief look at the tycoon’s rather sketchy business dealings, look no further. But if you want to see The Donald at his most entertaining, you’d be better off picking up a season of The Apprentice on DVD instead.
