MOVIE OF THE WEEK November 1, 2024: MARTHA
Whether you know Martha Stewart for her eponymous magazine, her headline-making insider trading scandal, or because she’s now best buddies with Snoop Dogg, chances are you do know her. Ever since she published her first book, Entertaining, in 1982, Stewart has been a famous (indeed, many might say infamous) figure in U.S. pop culture, inspiring everything from admiration to envy to satire. In Martha, director R.J. Cutler works with Stewart to tell her story in her own words.
Martha is a straightforward biographical documentary in that it traces Stewart’s life starting with her childhood in 1940s and ’50s New Jersey and then covers additional life milestones more or less in chronological order: college, a modeling career, marriage, motherhood, divorce, and, ultimately, iconhood. But Stewart’s life has hardly been a rote one. Not just anyone could turn a knack for gardening and throwing parties into a media empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and Martha makes it clear that Stewart’s determination, high expectations, and impatience for others’ weaknesses are a large part of what spurred her to greatness—and ultimately helped make her a target for everyone from Saturday Night Live to the FBI.
Stewart’s commentary, both in voice over and sit-down interviews, accompanies photos and archival footage of her life; friends and family members offer their thoughts, too, but aren’t shown on screen. Cutler also uses current footage of Stewart going about the business of maintaining her home and garden in upstate New York to underline the fact that, now in her 80s, she’s as involved and exacting as ever. This is a woman who brooks no nonsense, and she doesn’t want any excuses—even from herself.
While Martha the film and Martha the woman never try to make the case that Stewart is anything other than demanding, decisive, and particular, don’t be surprised if you come away from watching with more empathy for her. So much of what she’s been chastised and taken to task for in her life wouldn’t make anyone bat an eye if she was a man. And her guiding principle—to help make beauty and hospitality widely accessible and achievable—has always been worthwhile. In fact, you might say “it’s a good thing.”– Betsy Bozdech
Team #MOTW’s comments:
Nell Minow: America has had a love/hate relationship with Martha Stewart, whose “good thing” domestic perfection can seem both aspirational and oppressive, part of what makes her endlessly fascinating. This documentary recognizes that inherent conflict. It is filled with well-chosen archival footage and commentary but centered on interviews Stewart that are sometimes revealing in what she says and just as often revealing on what she does not say. Ultimately, it leaves us admiring the determination and resilience of one of the most consequential figures of American culture for four decades.
Sherin Nicole “If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a garden,” to quote Martha Stewart. I’m known for my poetic prose. Yet after watching MARTHA, the first thing I want to say is: The feds sent Martha Stewart to jail on some bulls#!t. That reaction is visceral. It is a bullet that ricochets on every level of every industry—because only women get punished for succeeding. When we are brilliant, commanding, and excellent, toxicity brings out the axes. That attempt to chop her down is part of Stewart’s story, but only because she excelled at modeling, the stock market, catering, and being the CEO of an empire built on excellence in the kitchen. R.J. Cutler’s documentary evokes angry tears because it makes no attempts to tenderize Martha Stewart or to arrange her so her prettiest petals touch the light. Here, she is tough, terse, acerbic, and sometimes appears to be hiding the truth from herself. That’s where we’re allowed to see the fullness of her nature: through the cracks in that flawless façade, through the jokes made at a roast, and the friendships—like with Snoop—that last. In MARTHA, Stewart is “nevertheless she persisted” embodied. Throughout her life, no matter how hostile the ground beneath her feet becomes, she thrives in literal and metaphorical gardens.
Leslie Combemale R.J. Cutler does a great job of presenting Martha as a subject, telling her story through interviews and footage, but also creating an arc that allows viewers to come to their own conclusion about her. There’s no denying, however, that Martha Stewart has broken with expectation for women in life and business. The way the director follows Martha’s life then and now demands audiences look inside themselves and see why they do or don’t like her. She’s the queen of “I don’t know why I don’t like her, I just don’t”, and we now live in a world where we should have good reason for those feelings, not just accept them. Without that examination we’ll never get beyond patriarchal and societal misogyny. Read full review.
Jennifer Merin Filmmaker R.J. Cutler’s Martha, is a deep delve documentary about the life and career of lifestylist supreme Martha Stewart. Whether you love her or hate her and buy her brand or not, she has shaped the aspirations of millions of women not only across the United States, but around the globe. There’s a lot of archival footage used to tell the story, but the most compelling evidence of Martha’s character is presented in on camera interviews. Revealing is the word. She’s a powerhouse whose persona and influence cannot be ignored.
Sandie Angulo Chen: Martha, R.J. Cutler’s biographical documentary on Martha Stewart, chronicles the lifestyle mogul’s rise, fall, and resurgence. Cutler candidly addresses pivotal events, such as Stewart’s painful divorce from husband Andy Stewart and the felony conviction that shook her billion-dollar brand. Some questions remain unexplored—like whether Stewart maintained connections with friends she made in prison or details of her past tension with daughter Alexis. At its best, the film highlights Stewart’s trailblazing career and her work ethic in crafting a unique brand of aspirational domesticity. Featuring interviews with family, colleagues, and frequent collaborator Snoop Dogg, the documentary may not reveal much that’s new but reinforces Stewart’s lasting cultural relevance and her talent for reinvention.
Loren King The subtext of Martha is the familiar story of an accomplished, powerful woman held to an impossible standard and judged in ways that men of equal or lesser stature never are. Yet, it’s Stewart who gets the final say, as she slowly rebuilt her career, wealth and reputation in the years after her five-month prison stint. Martha is a story of reinvention and redemption, topped with a sprinkling of sweet revenge. Read full review.
Liz Whittemore R.J. Cutler has taken one of America’s beloved icons and delivered a revealing, raw, and authentic documentary. Martha Stewart is many things, including a whipsmart and fearless pioneer who turned homemaking into a multi-billion dollar empire. The film covers everything from her humble beginnings to her extraordinary rise to fame, the media-fueled scandal that eroded her household name, and the unexpected friendship that solidified her unbelievable comeback. Cutler allows Stewart to speak her truth in all its unapologetic glory, often exposing unresolved trauma behind her words. Whether you think her a villain or a visionary, Martha is a story of unrelenting perseverance and victorious reinvention.
Cate Marquis Martha is a deep-dive documentary about the personal life and career of Martha Stewart, a love-her or hate-her figure who, regardless of how you feel about her, has undeniably had an amazing up-and-down life. Martha changed how we perceive housewives and home entertaining, and with archival stills, footage and interviews, MARTHA shows how Stewart went from a financially-stressed childhood where her perfectionist father grew vegetables to feed six children and her teacher mother cooked to being the first woman billionaire in the U.S. and the head of her own lifestyle empire. Martha peels back the layers of this complicated woman that the documentary dubs “the first influencer.”
FILM DETAILS:
Title: Martha
Director: R.J. Cutler
Release Date: October 30, 2024
Running Time: 115 minutes
Language: English
Screenwriters: R,J. Cutler, Documentary
Lead Performers: Martha Stewart
Distribution Company: Netflix
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Sandie Angulo Chen, Betsy Bozdech, Leslie Combemale, Pam Grady, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Sherin Nicole, Liz Whittemore
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Edited by Jennifer Merin1
