Martha Stewart Criticizes Netflix Doc for ‘Ugliest Camera Angles,’ a ‘Lousy’ Score and Ending With Her Looking Like a ‘Lonely Old Lady’: ‘I Hate Those Last Scenes’

As a seasoned movie connoisseur with decades of viewing under my belt, I must say that Martha Stewart‘s new Netflix documentary, “Martha,” left me a little… let’s just say ‘perplexed.’ The film, directed by R.J. Cutler, promised an intimate look into the life of this legendary figure, but it seems Martha herself feels it fell short.

Martha Stewart has watched her new Netflix documentary, “Martha,” but isn’t entirely pleased with the final result. Directed by R.J. Cutler, who has recently produced biographical documentaries such as “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” and “Elton John: Never Too Late,” this Stewart documentary includes candid conversations with Martha, revealing never-before-seen images, letters, and diary entries from her career, drawn from her personal archives.

In an interview with The New York Times, Stewart criticized Martha’s portrayal quite harshly and stated that R.J. had extensive access to her archive but utilized minimal footage. She found it surprising. Furthermore, she disclosed her attempts to remove certain scenes from the film that Cutler included in the final cut.

Regarding the final scenes showing me as an elderly woman stooped in the garden, I requested they be removed, but my director didn’t agree. I dislike those scenes immensely. You see, just before filming them, I had undergone surgery on my Achilles’ tendon, which left me limping. Yet, he doesn’t explain why – perhaps because I was able to continue working tirelessly every day despite the ordeal.

Stewart additionally criticized the “poor” choice of score used in the film, stating: “I informed R.J., ‘A crucial aspect of the movie is that you play rap music.’ I assumed Dr. Dre would compose it, or perhaps Snoop or Fredwreck. I said, ‘I want that music.’ And then he puts in some classical score instead, which has no connection to me.

Beyond expressing her disagreement, she found the documentary excessively centered on her 2004 trial, which involved felony charges stemming from the ImClone stock trading case. In essence, she contended that the trial and imprisonment, which spanned less than two years out of an 83-year lifespan, were relatively insignificant. She even went as far as to say it felt more like a vacation when looking back on it.

Additionally, there were some unflattering camera angles in the documentary. As Stewart clarified to The Times, “He had three cameras on me, yet he selected the most unattractive one. I even told him, ‘Please don’t use that angle! That’s not the most flattering angle. You have three cameras; why not use another?’ But he refused to change it.

Stewart didn’t finish praising the documentary entirely, but she did mention that she appreciated the first part because it delved into subjects that are largely unknown to most people. Furthermore, Stewart expressed her appreciation for the positive response the film has been receiving from young female viewers.

Many girls have shared with me that the documentary provided them an unexpected source of strength, Stewart noted. What I admire most about this film is its portrayal of a resilient woman who endures hardship yet triumphs, showcasing both her ability to survive terror and achieve greatness.

She continued, “That’s exactly how I envisioned the documentary.” She didn’t want it to come across as her bragging about resilience or similar things. Instead, she wanted it to illustrate that one can navigate life while remaining true to oneself.

Cutler shared the following comment with The Times: “I’m incredibly proud of this movie, and I truly respect Martha for putting her trust in me to create it. I’m not taken aback that some parts might be challenging for her to accept.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that you can now stream “Martha” on Netflix! For a deeper dive into director Stewart’s thoughts about this flick, be sure to visit The New York Times’ website for an insightful read. Enjoy the movie watching experience!

2024-10-31 01:16

Martha Stewart Criticizes Netflix Doc for ‘Ugliest Camera Angles,’ a ‘Lousy’ Score and Ending With Her Looking Like a ‘Lonely Old Lady’: ‘I Hate Those Last Scenes’

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