Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie | |
|---|---|
 Ritchie (left center) with wife Madonna (right) | |
| Born | Guy Stuart Ritchie |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Spouse | Madonna (2000-present) |
Guy Stuart Ritchie (born 10 September 1968 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire[1][2]) is an English screenwriter and film director.
Early life
Ritchie was born on September 10, 1968, the second of two children born to John Vivian Ritchie and Amber Parkinson.[3] Ritchie, who is dyslexic, was expelled from Stanbridge Earls School, one of the most prominent institutions specialising in dyslexia in the UK, at the age of 15.[1]. Ritchie then attended Sibford School, a small, independent boarding school in Oxfordshire, with his sister. After pushing a certain limit of warnings he was then asked to leave.[citation needed] He has since become a music video and film director.
Directing career
Ritchie directed a 20-minute short film in 1995 entitled The Hard Case. His first full-length feature was the successful Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998. Recalling Quentin Tarantino, The Sting and The Italian Job, the film was widely praised for its wit. It also introduced actor Jason Statham (The Transporter) to worldwide audiences, and introduced former football player Vinnie Jones to a new career as a film actor. In 2000 Ritchie won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay.
His second feature film was Snatch, released in the year 2000. Originally known as Diamonds, it was another caper comedy, this time backed by a major studio following the previous success of Lock, Stock. The cast featured such Hollywood big names as Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro and Dennis Farina, along with the returning Vinnie Jones and Statham. Similar to "Lock, Stock" in featuring a complex and inventive storyline in which the characters weave in and out of each others' lives, the film also plays with time, depicting events from various perspectives and recalling such classic crime films as Stanley Kubrick's The Killing.
Richie created and produced a spin-off television series called Lock, Stock....[4]
Following his marriage to Madonna, Ritchie began focusing his filmmaking on his famous wife, directing her in both a music video (for the song "What It Feels Like for a Girl," a controversial video that showed Madonna engaging in running people down with a car) and a short film, "Star", for the BMW films series. Ritchie's next feature, also a vehicle for Madonna, was a remake of the 1974 Lina Wertmüller hit Swept Away (also entitled Swept Away). Ritchie cast Madonna as a rich, rude, socialite who, after a shipwreck, is trapped on a deserted island with a slovenly Communist sailor who humiliates her. Ritchie renamed the woman Amber Leighton after his mother. This film was both a critical and commercial disappointment.
Ritchie's next project was a Vegas-themed heist film entitled Revolver, which was critically panned.[5][6]
Another project Guy Ritchie was involved with was a hidden camera show called Swag, for channel Five in the UK, which turned the table on criminals and opportunists by using stunts to trap them in the act.
David R. Hawkins notes on his website that Ritchie is in development to film a documentary about Hawkins.[citation needed] Ritchie has also started shooting RocknRolla starring Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, & Tom Wilkinson.[7] Ritchie will also direct a film based on a comic book series he created with Virgin Comics entitled Guy Ritchie's Gamekeeper. The film rights were acquired by Warner Brothers in July 2007. The film's being produced by Silver Pictures.[8]
In 2008, Ritchie directed a commercial for Nike called "Take It To The Next Level", about a young Dutch footballer who signs for Arsenal, showing the progression of his career from his viewpoint, until he makes his debut for the Netherlands. The commercial features cameo appearances from Arsene Wenger, William Gallas, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, Marco Materazzi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Theo Walcott, Ronaldinho, Rafael Márquez, Bojan Krkic, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Nani, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder. Additional cast include Nicklas Bendtner, Abou Diaby, Armand Traoré, Andrés Iniesta, and Maniche. [9]
Personal life
On December 22, 2000, he married the American pop singer and actress Madonna at Skibo Castle in Scotland. They have a son, Rocco, born August 11 2000 in Los Angeles, California, and have adopted a Malawian baby boy, David, currently staying at their home in central London. Ritchie is also step-father to Madonna's daughter, Lourdes, born in 1996. Ritchie and Madonna have homes in London, Los Angeles, New York, in addition to their country retreat, Ashcombe House in Wiltshire. They are both devotees of the quasi-mystical Kabbalah Centre and donate money and time to practising and spreading its teachings.
On 18 May 2000 Ritchie was arrested by the police after he assaulted a 20-year-old man outside the Kensington home he shared with the singer, causing actual bodily harm.[10]
Ritchie was the inspiration, and is the subject, of singer Robbie Williams' single "She's Madonna" from his 2006 album Rudebox. Madonna herself has actually expressed her appreciation of the song.
Sport
Ritchie started training in Shotokan karate at the age of seven at the Budokwai in London, where he later achieved a black belt in judo.[11]. He also has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.[12]
Ritchie is a fan of Chelsea Football Club.[13] He also attended Battleground 9 MMA fight night in Middlesbrough and UFC 85 in London.
Filmography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1995 | The Hard Case |
| 1998 | Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels |
| 2000 | Snatch |
| 2001 | The Hire: Star |
| 2002 | Swept Away |
| 2005 | Revolver |
| 2008 | Suspect |
| 2008 | RocknRolla |
References
- ^ a b "Guy Ritchie Biography". The Biography Channel. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ "Guy Ritchie". Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Harry McLaughlin. "Our Double Descent from the Blood Royal" (PDF). harrymclaughlin.com. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
Captain John Vivian Ritchie b. 1928. ... 1st marriage 1963===Amber, née Parkinson ... Guy Stuart Ritchie b. 1968
- ^ "Lock, Stock..." (2000)
- ^ Simon Guerrier. "Revolver Review". filmfocus.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
Tedious, humourless, pretentious and nasty
- ^ Adrian Hennigan. "BBC - Movies - review - Revolver". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
plodding pretentiousness in a film that's illuminated by great action set-pieces and some powerful performances, but not redeemed
- ^ "Ludacris in new Guy Ritchie Film". muchmusic.com. 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
Ludacris scored a role in the latest Guy Ritchie film RocknRolla.
- ^ News
- ^ Guy Ritchie's new Nike advert to hit screens Metro, April 28 2008
- ^ Craig Rosen. "Madonna's Man Guy Ritchie Arrested". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ "I am used to getting a good rumping from the critics. So what?" by Charlotte Edwardes, Daily Telegraph, UK. September 26, 2005.
- ^ He Has Leverage - New York Times article about Guy Ritchie and BJJ
- ^ "Celebrity Fans". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2007-12-31.