An auteur theory holds the direct and creative force behind a particular directors film. It is the repetition of their individualistic signature characteristic that distinguishes their films from any other . Characteristics take form in many components including narrative, cinematography,characters,setting,genre and mise-en-scene which is further distinguished by props,locations,lighting,editing,acting, positioning,facial expressions and body language.According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur_theory# the auteur theory is defined as the personal visionary of a director that is distinctive enough to tell through the studio interference and collective process. Another website: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/44609/auteur-theory , also supports this finding.
I believe Guy Ritchie, the director of many films such as Revolver,Lock Stock and Smoking Barrels and Rock'n'Rolla, can be defined as possessing the qualities that make him an Auteur. His theory is in the means of his narrative, films genre and mise en scene.Guy Ritchie specialises in the crime thriller genre. Both his film Revolver and Rock'n'Rolla incorporates the gangster theme to its narrative.Guy Ritchie began his film career in the media industry by producing music promos and commercials. His first film was The Hard Case, a twenty minute film that is also a prequel to his box office hit Lock,Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Two years after the success of Lock,Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Guy Ritchie directed another successful film, Snatch in 2000. Guy Ritchie films are distinctly about a strong,complex, and violent narrative with gangster and crime being an ongoing theme.
The narrative of the film Revolver involves the main protagonist being released from his seven-year jail sentence of which he was sentenced to for a crime he did not commit. Once being freed he is set on seeking revenge on his boss who put him there . The characters of the films narrative are upper class gangsters involved in the illegal casino gambling.They hustle their way for millions of dollars and kill those whom impose as a threat to them.Like Revolver, the plot of Rock'n'Rolla is complicated, perplexing and problematic. Many scenes involve the use of guns whereby the theme of death is also incorporated. In Guy Ritchie's films 'life' seems such a trivial matter, holding no value in a sense that it can be taken away easily without a care or concern by the other characters whom are gang members. Instead, both films hold tremendous value and importance on respect, hierarchy and loyalty.
Besides Guy Ritchie's narrative, and characters supporting his qualification as an Auteur, his film styles is also a contributing factor. A cinematic style is seen in both films, with also a voice over narrating a characters backstory or thoughts. His films are brutal and revengeful thus being generalised as a crime, thriller genre. In relation the narrative of his films, money plays an immense role as it acts as the goal and final outcome for the characters pursuit. They revolve around a group of men, gang members trying to repay a hefty sum of money to their crime boss whom is usually based in London or Las Vegas. Guy Ritchie films are easily distinguishable
In regards to Guy Ritchies cinematography, his films include a lot of low angled faceless shots. Revolver begins with a faceless shot depicting only the back of three men:
Film shots in Guy Ritchie films often transition from one shot to another through distinct editing of either fade-out cuts, blurry, side to side, fade-in cuts, top to bottom and/or bottom to top. His shots do not just progress smoothly like normal films. An impact of some sort of creative transitioning is incorporated often to depict the mood of a certain scene. For instance a quick transition supports the pace of a particular scene where by a slow blurry transition can depict a slow and sad scene where by emotions are serious . From a bellow shot to an above shot is transitioned by the stillness of one to the other with images forming side to side.
This scene from Rock'N Rolla at 2:11to 2:13 had transitioned into a blur to the image below it by 2:14 and had become a total different still image ( below second image) by 2:15 that was transitioned through the editing techniques of fading out by side to side.
The same effect was placed in Revolver. At 1:53 a shot of was taken then faded out to a blur to introduce the next shot.
1:56
Revolver
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Rock'n'Rolla
SOURCES:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005363/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/44609/auteur-theory
