Friday, 19 November 2010
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Auteur Theory - François Truffaut
In 1954, François Truffaut wrote an essay entitled A Certain Tendency in French Cinema. In this work he claimed that film is a great medium for expressing the personal ideas of the director. He suggested that this meant that the director should therefore be regarded as an auteur. In fact, Truffaut once provocatively said that: "There are no good and bad movies, only good and bad directors"
The worth of this theory has been questioned by some critiques. But, it is particularly useful as a starting point for the interpretation of some films.
Auteur Theory suggests that a director can use the commercial apparatus of film-making in the same way that a writer uses a pen or a painter uses paint and a paintbrush. It is a medium for the personal artistic expression of the director. The film theorotician, André Bazin, explained that: auteur theory was a way of choosing the personal factor in artistic creation as a standard of referencce, and then assuming that it continues and even progresses from one film to the next.
Auteur Theory suggests that the best films will bear their maker’s ‘signature’. Which may manifest itself as the stamp of his or her individual personality or perhaps even focus on recurring themes within the body of work. Alfred Hitchcock plays this idea up in most of his movies where he makes sure that he appears on screen in a brief cameo spot. This became a game that viewers would engage in, waiting to find out when he would appear.
The worth of this theory has been questioned by some critiques. But, it is particularly useful as a starting point for the interpretation of some films.
Auteur Theory suggests that a director can use the commercial apparatus of film-making in the same way that a writer uses a pen or a painter uses paint and a paintbrush. It is a medium for the personal artistic expression of the director. The film theorotician, André Bazin, explained that: auteur theory was a way of choosing the personal factor in artistic creation as a standard of referencce, and then assuming that it continues and even progresses from one film to the next.
Auteur Theory suggests that the best films will bear their maker’s ‘signature’. Which may manifest itself as the stamp of his or her individual personality or perhaps even focus on recurring themes within the body of work. Alfred Hitchcock plays this idea up in most of his movies where he makes sure that he appears on screen in a brief cameo spot. This became a game that viewers would engage in, waiting to find out when he would appear.
FILM SHAKE :Guy Ritchie as a crime-film auteur -
FILM SHAKE
Guy Ritchie as a crime-film auteur
The gangster genre is a typical American phenomenon since it is very much rooted in the American culture. Gangsters are an integral part of this country’s history and they became a perfect metaphor for achieving the American Dreams of wealth and success. The British film industry also pays much attention to this compelling cinematic style. However, it is important to mention that the unique fashion and mannerism of the British imprints a visible sign on every gangster work. Throughout British film history the presentation of the crime theme has changed significantly over the years. The classic ones like Brighton Rock (1947) or Get Carter (1971) are definitely more serious than the recent Guy Ritchie’s sarcastic cinematic creations. Brutal and revengeful professionals like - Jack Carter turn into modern-day quirky gangsters like - Brick Top who is fascinated with pigs.
The genre received its revival with Ritchie’s successful directorial debut Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), which appears to be more of an underworld comedy than a crime story of the highest magnitude. Two years later the audience eagerly visits cinemas to watch Snatch. Ritchie’s second achievement is very much modelled on his first film and it is safe to say that it is almost “a sequel” to his previous work. Definitely this filmmaker made his name popular by a modern take on British gangster film. His distinguishable style, which I will discuss later, gives freshness and lightness to this serious genre.
Nowadays, the gangster film cycle is a significant and popular one in Great Britain. Even though the genre is identified as an American one, Britain is not isolated from this aesthetic and narrative trend but gives a specific flavour to it. Definitely Ritchie contributes immensely to this new gangster image. Concentrating on the two instances of a crime film - Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch directed by Guy Ritchie -, we can sum up that it is a combination of violence and witty humour set in the ugliest parts of urban Britain. Both films centre on a group of underworld low lives. The former is a criminal black comedy telling the story of a young gambler who has a flair for cards but, unfortunately, lost a lot of money and has to pay off the debt. The latter is about various gangsters who want to be in the possession of an 84-carat diamond that eventually ends up in a dog’s stomach.
Guy Ritchie as a crime-film auteur
The gangster genre is a typical American phenomenon since it is very much rooted in the American culture. Gangsters are an integral part of this country’s history and they became a perfect metaphor for achieving the American Dreams of wealth and success. The British film industry also pays much attention to this compelling cinematic style. However, it is important to mention that the unique fashion and mannerism of the British imprints a visible sign on every gangster work. Throughout British film history the presentation of the crime theme has changed significantly over the years. The classic ones like Brighton Rock (1947) or Get Carter (1971) are definitely more serious than the recent Guy Ritchie’s sarcastic cinematic creations. Brutal and revengeful professionals like - Jack Carter turn into modern-day quirky gangsters like - Brick Top who is fascinated with pigs.
The genre received its revival with Ritchie’s successful directorial debut Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), which appears to be more of an underworld comedy than a crime story of the highest magnitude. Two years later the audience eagerly visits cinemas to watch Snatch. Ritchie’s second achievement is very much modelled on his first film and it is safe to say that it is almost “a sequel” to his previous work. Definitely this filmmaker made his name popular by a modern take on British gangster film. His distinguishable style, which I will discuss later, gives freshness and lightness to this serious genre.
Nowadays, the gangster film cycle is a significant and popular one in Great Britain. Even though the genre is identified as an American one, Britain is not isolated from this aesthetic and narrative trend but gives a specific flavour to it. Definitely Ritchie contributes immensely to this new gangster image. Concentrating on the two instances of a crime film - Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch directed by Guy Ritchie -, we can sum up that it is a combination of violence and witty humour set in the ugliest parts of urban Britain. Both films centre on a group of underworld low lives. The former is a criminal black comedy telling the story of a young gambler who has a flair for cards but, unfortunately, lost a lot of money and has to pay off the debt. The latter is about various gangsters who want to be in the possession of an 84-carat diamond that eventually ends up in a dog’s stomach.
ROCK & ROLLA
In London, a real-estate scam puts millions of pounds up for grabs, attracting some of the city's scrappiest tough guys and its more established underworld types, all of whom are looking to get rich quick. While the city's seasoned criminals vie for the cash, an unexpected player -- a drugged out rock 'n' roller presumed to be dead but very much alive.
SNATCH
Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers, and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.
LOCK STOCK & TWO SMOKING BARRELS
Four London working class stiffs pool their money to put one in a high stakes card game, but things go wrong and they end up owing half a million pounds and having one week to come up with the cash.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Guy Ritiche (DIRECTOR)
Ritchie was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, the second of two children born to Amber (née Parkinson) and John Vivian Ritchie. 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. He has stated that drug use was the reason for the expulsion; his father has said that it was because his son was caught "cutting class and entertaining a girl in his room."
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. He was introduced to Madonna when the soundtrack to "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" was issued on her Maverick Records label. The film introduced actor Jason Statham (The Transporter) to worldwide audiences, and introduced former footballer Vinnie Jones to a new career as a film star. In 2000 Ritchie won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay. Ritchie created and produced a spin-off television series called Lock, Stock....
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[citation needed]. 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 and Two Smoking Barrels" 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.
Ritchie's next project was a Vegas-themed heist film entitled Revolver, which was critically panned in the US and UK. It was however a underground success in Germany, where it was released very late, as a straight-to-DVD release.
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.
Ritchie has also written and directed RocknRolla starring Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Gerard Butler, Tom Hardy, Jeremy Piven, Thandie Newton, and Tom Wilkinson. 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.
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 some football players with music by Eagles of Death Metal
Ritchie's latest movie, Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law, made its theatrical release on December 25, 2009. The film received generally positive reviews[14] and grossed more than $520 million worldwide, becoming Ritchie's most successful film financially. A sequel is presently being filmed.[citation needed
Filmography
Year Film Notes Credited as
1995 The Hard Case
20 min short film Director
Writer
1998 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Feature film debut Director
Writer
2000 Snatch
Director
Writer
2001 The Hire: Star
BMW Short Film Commercial Director
2002 Swept Away
With Madonna
Director
Writer
2005 Revolver
Director
Writer
2007 Suspect Television Director
2008 RocknRolla
Director
Producer
Writer
2009 Sherlock Holmes
Director
2011 Sherlock Holmes 2
Director
2012 The Fistfull
Director
Writer
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. He was introduced to Madonna when the soundtrack to "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" was issued on her Maverick Records label. The film introduced actor Jason Statham (The Transporter) to worldwide audiences, and introduced former footballer Vinnie Jones to a new career as a film star. In 2000 Ritchie won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay. Ritchie created and produced a spin-off television series called Lock, Stock....
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[citation needed]. 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 and Two Smoking Barrels" 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.
Ritchie's next project was a Vegas-themed heist film entitled Revolver, which was critically panned in the US and UK. It was however a underground success in Germany, where it was released very late, as a straight-to-DVD release.
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.
Ritchie has also written and directed RocknRolla starring Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Gerard Butler, Tom Hardy, Jeremy Piven, Thandie Newton, and Tom Wilkinson. 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.
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 some football players with music by Eagles of Death Metal
Ritchie's latest movie, Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law, made its theatrical release on December 25, 2009. The film received generally positive reviews[14] and grossed more than $520 million worldwide, becoming Ritchie's most successful film financially. A sequel is presently being filmed.[citation needed
Filmography
Year Film Notes Credited as
1995 The Hard Case
20 min short film Director
Writer
1998 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Feature film debut Director
Writer
2000 Snatch
Director
Writer
2001 The Hire: Star
BMW Short Film Commercial Director
2002 Swept Away
With Madonna
Director
Writer
2005 Revolver
Director
Writer
2007 Suspect Television Director
2008 RocknRolla
Director
Producer
Writer
2009 Sherlock Holmes
Director
2011 Sherlock Holmes 2
Director
2012 The Fistfull
Director
Writer
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