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