Guy Ritchie

Guy Ritchie (born September 10, 1968) is a British film director. He has adopted a cockney accent despite being the stepson of baronet Sir Michael Leighton and a descendant of King Edward I http://webpages.charter.net/ghal/Harry_McLaughlin_Descent_From_King_Edward_I_.pdf. Richie dropped out of British public school Stanbridge Earls at 15 (he is dyslexic, the school is one of the most prominent schools specialising in dealing with dyslexia in Britain), but went on to become an accomplished music video and film director.

Related Topics:
September 10 - 1968 - British - Film director - Dyslexic - Music video

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Ritchie directed a film in 1995 titled The Hard Case. His first truly successful feature was Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998. Recalling Quentin Tarantino, The Sting and The Italian Job in equal measure, the film was widely praised for its wit. It also introduced actor Jason Statham to worldwide audiences, and set former soccer player Vinnie Jones onto a new career as a film actor.

Related Topics:
1995 - The Hard Case - Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - 1998 - Quentin Tarantino - The Sting - The Italian Job - Jason Statham - Soccer - Vinnie Jones

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His second release, Snatch in 2000, was another caper comedy, this time backed by a major studio. Its cast featured such Hollywood big names as Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, and Dennis Farina. Reviews were also strong for this film.

Related Topics:
''Snatch'' - 2000 - Hollywood - Brad Pitt - Benicio del Toro - Dennis Farina

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He married Madonna on December 22 2000 at Skibo Castle in Scotland, and they have one child together. They are both ardent devotees of the controversial quasi-mystical Kabbalah Centre and donate much money and time to practicing and spreading its teachings. Following his marriage to Madonna, Ritchie then began focusing his filmmaking around 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 such senselessly violent acts as running people down with a car) and a short film, "Star", for the popular BMW films series. Ritchie's next feature, also a vehicle for Madonna, was a remake of the 1960s Lina Wertmüller hit Swept Away also entitled Swept Away. Ritchie cast Madonna as a rich, bitchy socialite who, after a shipwreck, is trapped on a deserted island with a slovenly servant who smacks and humiliates her: the woman is called Amber Leighton, the name of Guy Ritchie's mother. The film was both a critical and commercial disaster that cast a cloud over Ritchie's filmmaking career.

Related Topics:
Madonna - December 22 - 2000 - Skibo Castle - Scotland - Kabbalah Centre - BMW films - 1960s - Lina Wertmüller - Swept Away - Swept Away

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Ritchie's next announced project was originally a Vegas-themed heist film entitled Revolver, which he angled to concentrate on the Civil War drama Six Shooters, in which four Union soldiers try to steal the gold reserves that Confederate President Jefferson Davis loaded onto trains during the siege of Richmond.

Related Topics:
Revolver - Civil War

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Ritchie and Madonna have homes in Los Angeles, New York and London, in addition to their country retreat, Ashcombe House.

Related Topics:
Madonna - Los Angeles - New York - London - Ashcombe House

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