As I sat down to watch Martha, the Netflix documentary about the iconic businesswoman and television personality, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for the woman who has weathered storms that would sink most of us. From her humble beginnings as a young mother in Jersey City to becoming a household name synonymous with culinary excellence and domestic perfection, Martha Stewart‘s life is nothing short of extraordinary.
Netflix’s documentary titled “Martha” delves deeply into the life story of Martha Stewart, guiding viewers from her modest beginnings to the rise and fall of her personal empire. Directed by R.J. Cutler, known for productions like “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” and “If I Stay“, this documentary highlights the captivating life of a cultural figurehead. Stewart’s business acumen, commitment to education, and innovative home-keeping methods have made her the pioneering influencer who has spanned generations.
After watching the movie herself, Stewart expressed in an interview with The New York Times that the final version didn’t live up to her hopes. While she appreciated the first half, which offered new glimpses into her youth and aspirations, the second part fell short of her expectations. She granted Cutler access to her personal life, but he left out intriguing stories, failed to capture Stewart’s captivating mind, focused excessively on her 2004 trial and imprisonment, and portrayed an inaccurate image of her as a solitary woman in her later years.
Martha Documentary’s Misguided Focus
Martha Stewart kicks off her presentation by taking viewers on a journey back to where it all began. A youthful and radiant Martha Stewart steps onto the stage, sharing her previously untold story from New Jersey: a bustling household, limited funds, and a disciplined father who shared her relentless pursuit of perfection. As images of her as a child, student, wife, and globetrotter flash across the screen, an indomitable spirit is showcased that propelled her onto a trajectory of unimaginable achievement. First, she was a successful model, then conquered Wall Street, followed by establishing a million-dollar catering business, writing books, hosting TV shows, and launching magazines – all stepping stones leading to her ultimate status as a billionaire, defying the media’s persistent efforts to diminish her accomplishments.
In a manner that is remarkably brilliant, straightforward, and innovative, Stewart consistently shines in whatever she dedicates herself to, with each success prompting her to take on an even more ambitious challenge. However, the momentum of the movie, mirroring her own, was brought to a standstill in 2004. Amid allegations of insider trading after selling shares in her friend Sam Waksal’s company, Stewart was found guilty of lying to the FBI, resulting in a five-month prison term.
According to Stewart, the film devoted an excessive amount of time to the trial and her days in jail. Now in her 80s, she views that phase of her life as a negligible incident, barely deserving such extensive coverage, even commenting that the judge dozed off during the trial due to its tediousness. Instead, she regrets that Cutler didn’t delve more into her work, specifically her magazine, which stood out for its contemporary perspective on conventional homemaking and pioneering photography approach.
The Ending Depicts Stewart as Old and Lonely
Stewart is not pleased with how she was depicted towards the end of the documentary, as it seems to portray her as a frail elderly woman wandering her garden, mostly interacting with staff members, and ending with a shot that emphasizes the vastness of her estate compared to her diminished size. During the interview, she expressed disapproval over Cutler’s omission of her recovery from an Achilles’ tendon operation during filming and his choice to use unfavorable camera angles despite her objections. Consequently, viewers are left with a perception of her as “an elderly lady stooped over in the garden” instead of the active 83-year-old who remains busy each day.
As a movie reviewer, I found it surprising that the documentary seemingly overlooked a significant aspect of Kristen Stewart’s life – her grandchildren. Although her daughter Alexis made a few appearances, it felt unusual not to mention the two adorable grandkids whom Stewart has often described as “utterly fantastic.
Stewart Approves the Film’s Ultimate Message
Beyond the issues previously mentioned, Stewart further expresses her irritation towards small imperfections found in the documentary. In recent times, a strong professional bond and genuine friendship has emerged between Stewart and rapper Snoop Dogg. However, she was firm that “a crucial aspect of the film should involve playing rap music,” but instead discovered that poor quality classical music was used. Even though Snoop Dogg’s song “Beautiful” was eventually added to the credits after Stewart voiced her concerns during an early edit, she remains unsatisfied with this significant omission.
Furthermore, Stewart shared intriguing tales from her personal life exclusively with Cutler, but many of these were also omitted. For instance, Alan Dershowitz’s admiration for her as a married woman in the 1960s was one such story that didn’t make it into his documentary. It’s understandable that not every detail from Stewart’s captivating life could be included, but it’s definitely disheartening to think that viewers missed out on some tantalizing anecdotes.
Regardless of all her criticism, Stewart is happy with what her young, female audience is taking away from the documentary as a whole. Focusing less on details and more on its demonstrative message of authenticity and inner-strength, the film shows viewers “a strong woman standing up for herself and living through horror as well as some huge success.” A documentary doesn’t need to strictly adhere to every detail of its subject, but relay the overall truth of their life. Martha Stewart is a sterling example of showing up as yourself despite what people think, and striving to create your best work despite your fears of failure. Martha is currently streaming on Netflix.
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2024-11-10 01:31