Martha Stewart slams Netflix film that 'makes me look like a lonely old lady' | film

Businesswoman and TV personality Martha Stewart has opened up about her life and work in a major new documentary that premiered on Netflix.

Stewart, 83, one of the most well-known media personalities in the US, criticizes the production, focus and editing of RJ Cutler's Martha. She was involved in the making of the film and contributed extensive contemporary interviews.

In an interview with The New York Times, Stewart was disdainful of the product she was supposedly promoting, saying that while Cutler was given “full access” to her archive, he “really used very little.” It was just shocking.”

She had particular problems with the final part of the film, which she unsuccessfully lobbied the director to change. “Those last scenes where I look like a lonely old lady walking hunched over in the garden?” she said. “Boy, I told him to get rid of those. And he refused.

“I hate those final scenes. Hate her. I had a torn Achilles tendon. I had to undergo this terrible operation. And so I limped a little. But again, he doesn’t even mention the reason – that I can get through this and still work seven days a week.”

Cutler's previous works include biographical studies of Billie Eilish, Elton John, John Belushi, Dick Cheney and Anna Wintour. His first film, “The War Room,” about Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Stewart's other criticisms of Martha included the “poor” score and the unflattering cinematography.

“I said to RJ,” she said, “'A big part of the movie is that you play rap music.' Dr. Dre will probably make it, or Snoop or Fredwreck. I said, 'I want this music.' And then he comes up with some lousy classical score that has nothing to do with me.” (Stewart co-hosted the television series Potluck Dinner Party with Snoop Dogg between 2016 and 2020.)

The director also refused to accept her instructions on how to use cameras, even though she used three of them. “He chooses the ugliest angle,” she said. “And I told him, ‘Don’t use that angle! That's not the prettiest angle. They had three cameras. Use the other angle.' He wouldn’t change a thing.”

Meanwhile, Stewart felt that Cutler focused disproportionately on her high-profile 2004 trial, which led to her conviction on stock-trading-related crimes.

“It wasn’t that important,” she told the New York Times. “The trial and actual incarceration took less than two years of an 83-year-old life. To be honest, I thought of it as a vacation.”

However, Stewart said she enjoyed the first half of the film because it “explores things that a lot of people don't know about,” and she said she received some enthusiastic feedback from young female viewers.

“So many girls have told me that watching it has given them a strength they didn’t know they had,” Stewart said. “And that’s what I like best about the documentary. It really shows a strong woman standing up for herself, going through horror and achieving great success.”

“That’s how I wanted to frame the documentary,” she added. “I shouldn't be bragging about inner strength and shit like that. It should be about showing that you can get through life and still be yourself.”

The director responded to his subject's criticism by telling the publication: “I'm really proud of this film and admire Martha's courage in entrusting me with its production.” I'm not surprised that aspects of it are difficult for her to recognize.”

In 2021, Alanis Morissette rejected a documentary about her life and career, Jagged, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, accusing director Alison Klayman of betraying her trust.

“I was lulled into a false sense of security and her salacious intentions became clear to me as soon as I saw the first clip of the film,” Morissette said. “That wasn’t the story I wanted to tell.”