RIP: James Foley

It was announced today that James Foley died earlier this week after a long battle with brain cancer.  Mr. Foley was 71.

James Foley graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo.  Mr. Foley then earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree in film study and production from USC (the University of Southern California).  It was there Hal Ashby saw one of James Foley’s student films and asked him to submit something to Ashby’s production company.  Unfortunately the production company folded before anything came of the offer.  Still, word was out about James Foley, a young director to keep an eye on.

Because of the buzz created by Hal Ashby, James Foley secured his first feature film, Reckless starring Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah.  James Foley would continue to direct feature films, television projects and music videos for the rest of his career.

Some of James Foley’s television and video projects include: Madonna: Dress You Up (Opening Sequence); Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour (Opening Sequence); Madonna: Live to Tell; Madonna: Papa Don’t Preach; Madonna: True Blue; Madonna: Who’s That Girl;  Madonna: The Look of Love; Deep Purple: King of Dreams; Twin Peaks; Gun; Hannibal; Red Zone; House of Cards (12 episodes); Wayward Pines; Billions (2 episodes); Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Free.

Some of the feature films directed by James Foley include: Reckless; At Close Range; Who’s That Girl; After Dark, My Sweet; Glen Garry Glen Ross; Fear; The Chamber; The Corrupter and Confidence.

My favorite James Foley film is Glen Garry Glen Ross.  Foley’s direction made a film that lacked physical action, fights or gun battles and instead focused on dialogue exciting and tension filled.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to James Foley’s family, friends and fans.