Camera Angles

One of the techniques that stood out to me while studying Guy Ritchie's films were the different camera angles that he uses in his films. In both Snatch and RocknRolla, most of the camera angle in the films is eye-level. This shows subjects as we would expect to see them in real life. In both of these films, low angle shots are mostly used on the character(s) who are in control of a situation, whereas high angle shots are mostly used on the character(s) who are the vulnerable ones in a situation. For example, in Snatch, there is a low angle shot on Mickey O'Neil as he steps into his caravan, and a high angle shot on Tommy who is still standing outside. This shows that Mickey is in authority at this point because it is his caravan and Tommy is an 'outsider'. This technique makes it able for the audience to relate to both of these characters as they are able to relate to Mickey who is looking down towards Tommy and also to Tommy who is looking up to Mickey. There are similar shots like this in RocknRolla, like at the beginning of the film, where the real estate agents are speaking to One Two and Mumbles. There is a low angle shot on the real estate agents, and a low angle shot on One Two and Mumbles. This clearly shows that the real estate agents are in charge.

Snatch

RocknRolla

real estate agents - low angle shot

One Two and Mumbles - high angle shot

Many of Guy Ritchie's low angle and high angle shots are also point of view (POV) shots. For example, there is a low angle shot on Turkish and Tommy when they're trying to wake Mickey up while he's passed out on the couch. This shot is taken from Mickey's POV. InRocknRolla, in the scene where One Two is running away from some Russian thugs, there is a high angle shot looking down on the railway tracks. This is also a POV shot, showing the railway tracks through One Two's eyes. These POV shots allow the audience to be drawn into the movie and connect with the character(s).

Snatch - Low angle POV shot

RocknRolla - High angle POV shot

Guy Ritchie also uses Dutch angles in some of his scenes. A lot of these shots are used to emphasize tension or non-reality of the situation. He mostly uses these shots in flashbacks. In Snatch, Guy Ritchie uses a dutch angle when Bullet Tooth Tony is holding a gun to Sol's head. this emphasizes on the tension of the situation as the audience are unsure as to whether he is going to kill Sol or not. In RocknRolla, a dutch angle is used when Johnny has a flashback into his childhood days. A dutch angle is used on the shot of his father, who is unpleased with Johnny. This use of angle also emphasizes on the tension of the situation and it also emphasizes on the dysfunctional relationship between Johnny and his father. This helps the audience to relate to Johnny as a character as most people are involved in dysfunctional relationships of some sort.

Snatch - Dutch angle

RocknRolla - Dutch angle