If you are a fan of witty dialogue, fast-paced action, and charismatic characters, you probably know the name Guy Ritchie: The Master of Swagger and Style. The British filmmaker has been making waves in the industry. With his debut feature, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, in 1998. Since then, he has directed a variety of films. Directing crime comedies to blockbuster adaptations, always with his signature flair and humor. In this blog post, we will take a look at his career. Discuss his latest Netflix series, The Gentlemen, and his upcoming film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
From Music Videos to Movies
Ritchie started his career as a film runner in London, before moving on to direct music videos and commercials. He made his first short film, The Hard Case, in 1995. He used to secure financing for his first feature film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The film was a huge success, both critically and commercially. This launched the careers of actors like Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones, and Jason Flemyng. It also established Ritchie’s trademark style of fast editing, nonlinear storytelling, and colorful characters.
Ritchie followed up with Snatch in 2000. A crime comedy with a star-studded cast, including Brad Pitt, Benicio Del Toro, and Dennis Farina. The film was also well received and became a cult classic. However, Ritchie’s next film, Swept Away, a remake of a 1974 Italian film starring his then-wife Madonna, was a disaster, both critically and commercially. He won five Razzie Awards for the film, including Worst Director and Worst Picture.
Ritchie bounced back with Revolver in 2005, a complex and ambitious thriller that divided critics and audiences. He then returned to his roots with RocknRolla in 2008. A crime comedy with an ensemble cast, including Gerard Butler, Tom Hardy, and Idris Elba. The film was moderately successful and received mixed reviews.
A New Direction
In 2009, Ritchie ventured into a new genre with Sherlock Holmes. A big-budget adaptation of the classic detective stories, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. The film was a huge hit, grossing over $500 million worldwide and earning two Oscar nominations. Ritchie directed the sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, in 2011, which was also a success.
Ritchie then directed The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in 2015. A spy comedy based on the 1960s TV series, starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, and Alicia Vikander. The film was well received by critics, but underperformed at the box office. Ritchie’s next film, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword 2017. It was a fantasy epic starring Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, and Eric Bana. The film was a flop, both critically and commercially, and lost over $150 million for the studio.
A Comeback and a Disney Hit
Guy Ritchie: The Master of Swagger and Style made a comeback in 2019 with The Gentlemen. A crime comedy that returned to his original style and genre. The film starred Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant, among others. The film was a hit, both critically and commercially, and earned over $100 million on a $22 million budget.
Ritchie also directed Aladdin in 2019, a live-action remake of the 1992 Disney animated film. This starred Will Smith, Mena Massoud, and Naomi Scott. The film was a massive success. It grossed over $1 billion worldwide and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2019 and of Ritchie’s career.
The Gentlemen: The Netflix Series
In 2020, it was announced that Ritchie would produce and direct a TV series based on The Gentlemen, for Netflix. The series will feature new characters and stories, set in the same world as the film. Ritchie will direct the first two episodes and co-write the first episode with Matthew Read, who worked on Peaky Blinders.
The series will star Theo James as Eddie Halstead, the son of an English aristocrat who inherits his father’s estate. To then discover that it’s sitting on top of a weed empire owned by Mickey Pearson. The character played by McConaughey in the film. The series will follow Eddie’s attempts to take over the business, while dealing with various threats from the British underworld.
The Gentlemen will also star Daniel Ings, Kaya Scodelario, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones. Also Giancarlo Esposito, Chanel Cresswell, and Henry Golding, among others. The series is expected to premiere in March 2024 on Netflix.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Next Film
Ritchie’s next film project is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. A World War II action-comedy based on the true story. A secret British organization that conducted irregular warfare against the Nazis.
The film, based on Damian Lewis’s book, details the Special Operations Executive. It portrays unconventional soldiers using sabotage, assassination, and deception.
The film will star Alan Ritchson, Eiza González, Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Cary Elwes, Freddie Fox, Ian Fleming. Also Alex Pettyfer, and Til Schweiger, among others. Ritchie will direct and produce the film, along with Jerry Bruckheimer and Lionsgate. The film is scheduled to be released on April 19, 2024.
Guy Ritchie Trivia
- Guy Ritchie holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has expressed a desire to direct the sequel to Suicide Squad (2016).
- He dropped out of school when he was 15 and started his career as a film runner in London.
- He has a stepdaughter, Lourdes Leon, with his ex-wife Madonna, who he was introduced to by Sting and Trudie Styler.
- He directed his first short film, The Hard Case, in 1995, which he used to secure financing for his first feature film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
- He won five Razzie Awards for Swept Away, a remake of a 1974 Italian film starring Madonna, including Worst Director and Worst Picture.
- He filmed Hugh Grant’s scenes in The Gentlemen in just five days with 40 pages of dialogue to cover.
- He initially conceived The Gentlemen as a TV series and presented it to studios in that way, but they wanted it to be a movie first.
- He is an ardent football fan, with Chelsea being his favorite team.
- He can also speak Hebrew, apart from English.
Conclusion
Guy Ritchie: The Master of Swagger and Style is one of the most distinctive and versatile filmmakers working today. He crafted memorable films spanning two decades, showcasing adaptability across genres and appealing to diverse audiences with entertaining creations. Upcoming projects, The Gentlemen and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, promise his trademark style—we’re eagerly anticipating more swagger. If you are a fan of Guy Ritchie, or just love a good crime comedy or action film, make sure to check them out. And don’t forget to visit Flikbak TV for more reviews and news on the latest movies and shows.