Martha is a great example of a documentary that’s able to paint an intriguing and complex portrait of a controversial, yet beloved public figure, despite the fact that the film’s subject is notoriously and justifiably reticent to talk about their feelings in any amount of revealing depth. Martha takes a wrecking ball to the heavily fortified walls around their subject’s heart and mind, and while the holes in the dam only amount to a few gushes and trickles of previously unattainable material, those moments where the subject lets their guard down make all the difference in the world.
Hard nosed, hyper-motivated, and unquestionably talented “homemaker” icon Martha Stewart has been a fixture of the DIY and foodie scenes for decades, but her career has been dogged by accusations of being a cold hearted, verbally abusive perfectionist. Oh, and there was that whole stint in prison, which, in hindsight, seems like one of the lesser blips in the building of her empire than one might’ve expected. Stewart has always played her cards close to her chest regarding her personal life, which hasn’t aided the billionaire in terms to endearing herself to the masses.
But filmmaker R.J. Cutler (Belushi, Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, and the upcoming Elton John: Never Too Late) is able to challenge Martha Stewart and peels back enough layers to create a comprehensive warts and all look at what makes her tick. And Cutler’s findings will surprise viewers more than they’ll confirm preconceived suspicions. As one of the most documented public figures from the latter half of the twentieth century and into the modern era, there’s no shortage of archival material available to look back on Martha Stewart’s career, but Cutler is able to sit down with the entrepreneurial queen bee at great length to get the real story behind her heavily calculated (and some might say irreparably damaged) public image.
Stewart grew up as one of the older children in a family of six kids, with an overly critical, abusive, and bigoted father, which for better and worse led to an adult lifestyle that pursued perfection at every turn and forced her to never show emotion or weakness. After an early career as a model, Stewart transitioned into being one of the first women to make an impact in the resolutely male dominated world of Wall Street stock trading. After big losses and burnout, Stewart transitioned into a more domestic life, working on the Connecticut dream house she purchased with her then husband, book publisher Andy Stewart. That saw an eventual pivot into the world of catering for friends’ lavish parties and other upscale events, and thus began the building blocks of a multimedia empire that was envisioned by Stewart as an entire solar system where she functioned as the sun.
In addition to the behind-the-scenes gossip that she was a terror to work with (exemplified best here by previously unseen documentary footage from 2004, shot about a month before she received her prison sentence), Martha Stewart was always controversial in her approach to homemaking. Critics would often state that Stewart was showcasing a lifestyle of opulence and perfection that everyday people would never be able to live up to or obtain. During her sit down with Cutler, Stewart deftly deflects that critical assessment by saying she’s merely an educator and instructor.
Early into Martha, an interview subject (all of whom are recorded off camera, with only Stewart appearing in the flesh) calls her “the first influencer,” and although she has reinvented herself through social media while now in her eighties, that feels like a reductive, backhanded compliment. Yes, Stewart is as influential as any billionaire business owner working in retail, publishing, and television production could ever hope to be, but there’s always a sense of honesty in the work she puts out. Even if one would never attempt one of Stewarts arrangements, recipes, or gardening layouts, there’s still a sense of authority that makes some people at ease. If you take direction from Martha Stewart, chances are that the advice being given will lead you to the best possible outcome, even when not followed perfectly to the letter.
But don’t let Stewart hear that, as Martha shows its subject as someone still striving to maintain a perfect image. She might be more laid back and understanding on the whole, something she credits to her time in prison for obstruction of justice charges tied to misdeeds perpetrated by her stock broker more than her own illegalities. She’s still holding a lot back, but Cutler shows that she can hardly be blamed for that. Stewart was once the figurehead of a major corporation that rose and fell on the image, credibility, and reputation of its CEO. As a woman in business, Stewart was always held to a different standard than her male counterparts, and a lot of the things she did along the way would’ve been brushed under the carpet if she was a guy.
Then again, it’s not what you say, but how you say it that makes people form opinions of you, and Martha shows that she’s still a tough nut to crack. She’s not big on self pity, and there’s still a lot of bitterness to be found. (Just ask her about her feelings on the New York Post journalist that covered Stewart’s trial.) She’s unrepentant about a lot of things many others might regret, and gets visibly uncomfortable when talk shifts to infidelity (both on the part of her and her partners), but she did keep journals and letters that show a more intimate side of her personality that will never be shown on camera. Cutler uses all the resources at his disposal and Martha’s own words to illustrate how this person with a diamond hard exterior contains multitudes within her, and each piece of information adds up to a compelling whole.
Martha spends too much time rehashing Stewart’s legal woes when the other details of her life prove to be far more insightful and engaging to learn about. And while Cutler isn’t afraid of calling his subject out on double standards and inconsistencies to her face, the film isn’t likely to change anyone’s mind on whether they like Martha Stewart as a person or not. But Cutler’s film is a balanced, comprehensive look at a morally and professionally complicated person that inspires strong feelings, and that’s no small feat. No matter one’s feelings on the film’s subject, they’ll learn things they never knew before that will inform how the world views high profile women in business. As someone who self-identifies as an educator, I think Martha Stewart would like that.
Martha premieres on Netflix starting Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
