Watch Jim: The James Foley Story For Free

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I thought it had a chance at the Oscars. But after checking out the nominees again, I realised it's in there, except a place in the list of Original Song. Having watched it, I know it is not a masterpiece as it should have been, but the film's intention was fulfilled. They have revealed everything we wanted to know. Everything from the Jim's perspective, though his friends and family. In some way this film can be compared to 'Into the Wild'. The only difference is what kind of challenge those two were chosen to face. In one, about the nature and in another, made made.A man with no ambition, but he was desperate to do something and then finally he discovered what it is. So James Foley was an average American and had his family's backing of whatever he wanted to do with his life. But shocked them by announcing to be a photojournalist on the battlefront. His first volunteer assignment was in Libya. Made a few friends and ventured together to get what they wanted. Soon a terrible thing happened, but he did not back off. Following that he went to Syria and can he be second time lucky, is what the remaining tale discloses for us.❝Jim has a million dollar resume and a ten cent interview.❞First of all, I knew Jame Foley story through the media coverages when it hit the headline a couple of years ago. But I did not know this film was based on that, until I saw it. Not easy to watch if you have already known what's going to happen at the end or seen the original clip. I was uncomfortable watching the entire film. Because I think I'm too soft for such kind of conclusion. All I know is if it was the Bush administration, the response would have been different.The film was directed by the Jim's childhood friend. I hope someday someone would make a feature film based on this documentary. If you had seen 'A Thousand Time Good Night', you would know what it is like to be in a combat zone. A similar kind of film, but the result was different. Those being the conflict journalists are really very brave to be at the frontline with the cameras, not the guns. Bullets and bombs flying everything, just one hit, totally fatal. Hats off to them to let us know what's happening in those parts of the world.It covered well, all the basic information about Jim, before entering to the crucial section. When you know enough about him, you start to feel and see from his perspective. There are some recreated accounts, just to give the original effect. But you have to have your own imagination, as much as possible realistic like when you do for reading books. Because that's where it little slipped away, otherwise, and still it is a great documentary. This is a must see film, particularly if you are familiar with the name James Foley.8/10

I saw this at a sell out crowd at Hot Docs Toronto last night. All I can say is that there wasn't a dry eye anywhere next to me. What I thought was really moving was what the director said. He wanted the world to see his friend Jim Foley as he really was, not by the various stories and false accounts that were circulating. What comes across loud and clear is that everyone that encountered Jim was impressed by his ability to connect with people no matter what their circumstances and also his lack of guile or ulterior motive. If ever there was the right person at the right time he was it. Although our world is totally connected, there is a huge lack of timely and correct information. We desperately need the Jim Foleys of this world.

James Foley was one of those crazy-brave journalists who are the very backbone of any legitimate 21st century Democracy- someone who quite literally put it all on the line to tell us all just what the f--- was REALLY going on around the world. DEMOCRACY NOW! was where I first saw Foley, and I was impressed from the first; like Amy Goodman and everyone else I've discovered on DEMOCRACY NOW!, Foley risked his life to get to the Truth and to present it to the world. His final moments are hard to watch (and here I'm talking about what we see in JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY; I have no morbid interest whatsoever in seeing the rest). This documentary is as much a tribute to the Spirit of True Journalism as it is to the man who inspired it.

The emotional depth of this documentary is vast, impressive, immersive. In "Jim", James Foley is beautifully dissected as one of the most honest and kind-hearted conflict journalists of any time. I find it hard to review this film because of how powerful the entire experience was. I teared up half a dozen times, I couldn't find many words to say to my friends afterwards and neither could they. The documentary seemed to have taken control of us. But the moment that topped off the experience was after the Sundance screening, the director, James Foley's parents, and the young French journalist that was in captivity with James came out for a Q&A. The entire 500 seat audience gave a standing ovation, many in tears.I'm not sure how else to explain it without giving anything away. It was hard to stomach some of the more graphic and real images from inside Syria. Overall it was an incredible viewing experience, one that needs to be shared with as many people as possible. Especially in 2016 when ISIS appears to be a real threat.