In case you have not heard, there is a new movie coming out later this month titled A Mighty Heart. It is about slain journalist Daniel Pearl. He is the one who was investigating the shoe bomber (Richard Reid) when he was captured and decapitated in Pakistan. The upcoming movie caught my attention for two reasons. Number one, it is a very interesting and tragic story. The second reason the movie caught my attention is Dan Futterman is playing Daniel Pearl in the film.
I have liked Dan Futterman since I first saw him as Robin William’s son in The Birdcage. I thought he was a good actor, so I sought out other movies in which he starred. His first role was as a thug in The Fisher King alongside Jeff Bridges. I loved his starring role in Urbania where he played the tortured gay man who seeks out his lover’s killer. He had a one-episode stint on “Sex in the City,” was in four episodes of “Will and Grace,” and had a reoccurring role in “Judging Amy.”
I was really excited when I saw that he wrote the screenplay for 2005’s Oscar nominated film Capote. Although he did not win, Futterman was nominated for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay. Now it seems he is ready to give up acting for the computer.
Even as one of the biggest films in his career is about to be released (co-star Angelina Jolie plays Pearl’s wife Mariane), Futterman is saying he is ready to concentrate on writing. He recently told Reuters that he tends to over-intellectualize things and acting does not allowing him to do that while writing does.
While Futterman’s role in A Mighty Heart is not very big, it stands to be a key role in the film. But, unfortunately for his fans, it may be the last time we get to see him on the big screen. I am guessing though, it will not be the last time we hear his name associated with the Academy Awards.