Guy Stuart Ritchie (born 10 September 1968, Hatfield, Hertfordshire is an English screenwriter and filmmaker.
Early life
Ritchie was born on 10 September 1968, the second of two children born to John Vivian Ritchie and his first wife, the former 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]. He has stated that drug use was the reason for the expulsion; his father, however, has said that it was because his son was caught "cutting lessons and entertaining a girl in his room."
In addition to his elder sister, Tabitha, a dance instructor, Ritchie has a half-brother, Kevin Bayton, who was born to Amber Parkinson when she was a teenager and given up for adoption.
From 1973 until 1980, when they divorced, Ritchie's mother was married to Sir Michael Leighton, 11th baronet. As a divorcée, she is correctly styled as Amber, Lady Leighton.
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[citation needed]. It also 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.
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 and recalling such classic crime films as Stanley Kubrick's The Killing.
Ritchie created and produced a spin-off television series called Lock, Stock....
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 film, also featuring 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.
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.[12] 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.
Personal life
On 22 December, 2000, he married the American pop singer and actress Madonna at Skibo Castle in Scotland. They have a son, Rocco, born 11 August 2000 in Los Angeles, California, and have adopted a Malawian baby boy, David. On 15 October, 2008, British media reported that a split was "imminent" between Ritchie and Madonna.[15] The split has since been confirmed by their spokesperson[16] and Ritchie and Madonna are said to go public with the split because they "can’t bear to live with the pretence any longer".
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 Madonna, causing actual bodily harm.
Ritchie was the inspiration for, and is the subject of, singer Robbie Williams' single "She's Madonna" from his 2006 album Rudebox.
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.[19] He also has a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.[20] Ritchie is a fan of Chelsea Football Club.
Madonna and Guy Ritchie's marriage was dissolved by District Judge Reid by decree nisi at the clinical Principal Registry of the Family Division in High Holborn, London. Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, entered into a compromise agreement for Rocco, 8, and David, 3, and divided the children's time between Ritchie’s London home and Madonna’s in New York, where the two will be joined by her daughter Lourdes, 12, from a previous relationship. Ritchie waived rights to any part of Madonna’s wealth.[22] .[23] On December 15, 2008, it was announced by Madonna's spokeswoman that the singer had agreed a divorce settlement with Ritchie, the terms of which grant him between £50million and £60million, a figure that includes the value of the couple's country house in England. It is thought to be one of the biggest divorce payouts in history. [24] The statement also confirmed that custody of the couple's children had yet to be finalised.[25]. Ritchie was represented by Helen Ward of Manches.
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
2007 Suspect (TV)
2008 RocknRolla
2009 Sherlock Holmes