As a seasoned gamer who’s seen more documentaries than I care to count, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu when it comes to Martha Stewart‘s Netflix documentary. It seems like another instance where the line between truth and sensationalism gets blurred in the name of entertainment.
In terms of series that focus on portraying real individuals and occurrences, Netflix can sometimes be inconsistent, whether they’re unscripted documentaries or dramatized narratives. It seems like the upcoming Netflix release featuring Martha Stewart, scheduled for October 2024, might follow this pattern, and it appears that the streaming service isn’t thrilled about Martha Stewart criticizing the project after inviting her to the premiere.
Martha Stewart’s Criticisms About The Netflix Documentary
At the 2024 Retail Influencer CEO Forum on September 10, during a panel discussion moderated by The Daily Beast, Martha Stewart initially praised the first part of the film, but expressed more critical views regarding the second half. This segment is said to predominantly focus on her 2004 conviction and legal troubles. After labeling the production as “lazy,” she shared one basis for her criticism, which can be traced back to an interview with former FBI director James Comey. Essentially, this is how she put it:
Comey says, ‘Oh, she’s going to jail because she lied, not because she committed a crime’—some crap. And [Cutler doesn’t put] underneath, ‘Comey was fired for lying.’ I would, as a documentarian, put that in, so that’s the laziness part.
Stewart made a point of acknowledging that she didn’t anticipate having significant control over the final version, but she did bring up the matter of her collaboration agreement with director R.J. Cutler, which she thought would enable her to challenge or dispute certain decisions. However, it seems like the collaboration wasn’t as collaborative as expected, as she stated that Cutler was unwilling to alter anything in response to her concerns.
At 83, this sometimes iconic figure in the world of sex appeal expressed criticism towards a documentary that allegedly overlooked numerous individuals who played significant roles in making her a well-known name across households. In her own words:
Over the years, I’ve had countless amazing collaborations with thousands of dedicated employees and like-minded individuals who have put in tremendous effort. Excluding them from this story – it just doesn’t seem right to me. They are a significant part of my journey, shaping who I am today.
Martha Stewart initially mentioned that she rarely comments on matters she disapproves of in a professional setting due to its unsuitability for business practices. However, she felt confident in expressing her critical opinion about the upcoming Netflix documentary.
Netflix Execs Are Reportedly Upset After Setting Her Up With Private Plane
It seems that Stewart’s comments were not warmly received by the Netflix executives who contributed to the creation of the documentary. As reported by Page Six, this tension may stem from Netflix having arranged for the author and host to travel to the Telluride Film Festival premiere in August, not on a commercial flight but rather on a private plane instead.
Despite Martha Stewart’s positive participation in the festival Q&A and seemingly favorable comments about the project, it appears that her subsequent critical remarks have reportedly caused displeasure among those believed to have arranged the private jet arrangement for her. As per a source from Page Six:
It’s no secret that Netflix isn’t happy about this: Martha was spotted coming and going from the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado, traveling on a private jet provided by none other than Netflix.
It seems Netflix has the means to transport anyone wherever they wish, using any type of transportation, yet it’s not just about the money; it appears more so that they lavishly transported Stewart to the festival with flair, and afterwards she criticized the project.
In a light-hearted interaction, Martha Stewart playfully banters with a fan following her post about fall detection, which came shortly after her popular Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover.
R.J. Cutler is preparing another high-profile documentary featuring Elton John, following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival a week after Martha. Similarly to Stewart, John participated in a Q&A session and expressed positive sentiments about it. However, it remains unclear if the Grammy winner will offer further insights or differing opinions during future interviews.
Netflix is facing some criticism for the Ryan Murphy series titled “Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story.” This has been due to remarks from the show’s subject, Erik Menendez, whose comments mirror those who criticized Murphy and his team for dramatizing events in “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” Notably, this earlier series sparked issues for family members of the victims as they were forced to re-experience the events in a much more public setting.
Martha probably won’t make a significant difference upon its release, but it might influence Stewart’s decision to collaborate with the studio moving forward. The premiere is scheduled for Netflix subscribers on Wednesday, October 30 – a day before Halloween.
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2024-09-22 18:08