James Foley, Director of ‘Glengarry Glen Ross,’ Dies at 71

James Foley, the veteran director recognized for his early work in crime and noir, has passed away at the age of 71, according to TheWrap. A spokesperson shared that Foley had been quietly facing brain cancer over the past year and died peacefully in his sleep.

His most acclaimed work includes “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “At Close Range.” He directed one of the most underrated films of the ‘90s, “After Dark, My Sweet,” a gritty and intense adaptation of Jim Thompson’s dark noir novel. The film features Jason Patric as a down-on-his-luck former boxer who gets drawn into a dangerous scheme by Bruce Dern’s character and falls under the spell of Rachel Ward, leading to a chaotic spiral of crime.

Foley certainly directed the hell out of “Glengarry Glen Ross,” which could have easily felt like a stilted stage play. However, Foley brought David Mamet’s source material alive and made it incredibly cinematic. It’s certainly the best film Foley has ever directed, and will be the most cited part of his legacy.

The last worthy film of Foley’s career was 2003’s “Confidence,” an underseen gem starring Dustin Hoffman and Ed Burns. It blended sharp dialogue, stylish direction, and a layered narrative to elevate the heist genre. While Foley is often recognized for “Glengarry,” “Confidence” yet again showcased his deft ability to handle ensemble casts, and handle the crime genre in unexpectedly fresh ways.

It’s unfortunate that near the tail end of his career, Foley became more of a journeyman director (“The Corruptor,” “Perfect Stranger,” “Fifty Shades Darker”) as he had a real talent for exploring the dark complexities of human behavior. But he persisted and even went on to direct twelve episodes of Netflix’s “House of Cards.”

At his best, Foley’s style often emphasized psychological tension and strong dialogue, turning him into a versatile figure in film within the midbudget scene in the ‘80s and early ‘90s.