A documentary about Martha Stewart will open the Hamptons Film Festival on October 4th.
There’s some backstage drama, though, about RJ Cutler’s film about the superstar empress of all things cooked and designed.
Cutler is known for his Anna Wintour doc, “The September Issue,” which didn’t portray the sunglassed editor in the best light. I’ve heard there’s some tension between the director and subject.
But you know, Martha is big enough to show up and withstand a warts-and-all presentation. She’s gotten the last laugh on all of us, hasn’t she? She even went to jail and came out more successful than ever. Her best friend is Snoop Dogg.
“Martha” is just one of several high powered docs coming to HIFF. Erik Nelson’s “Daytime Revolution” will recall the week John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted the syndicated “Mike Douglas Show” in February 1972. I can still remember watching this every afternoon, slack jawed that they were on a “square” show.
Lennon and Ono handpicked their guests, ranging from iconic musicians like Chuck Berry, to comedian George Carlin, to radical activists like Yippie founder Jerry Rubin, Black Panther chairman Bobby Seale, and nascent consumer protection guru Ralph Nader.
There’s also a doc about Kenneth Cole, called “The Man with Sole,” about the designer whose unique newspaper ads skyrocketed him to fame and fortune as an activist and famous entrepreneur. There are also two very hyped comedies — “Bad Shabbos,” which was a hit at Tribeca, and “Christmas at Miller’s Point.”
More films will be announced soon, but so far HIFF sounds like it will be hot — even if it’s bracketed by the Jewish High Holidays. (There’s a lot of praying at HIFF anyway!) Artemis Riding and Audi are among the sponsors.
For more information, please visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.
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