Critics Have Seen Mark Ruffalo’s Task, And He’s Getting A Ton Of Praise For The HBO Show

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HBO, particularly its Sunday night lineup, is renowned for its prestigious dramas, having set new standards in the late 1990s. Though not all shows launched by the premium cable channel have been successful, their track record is impressive. Now, it seems that the success story may continue with “Task”, a miniseries created by Brad Ingelsby, who also made “Mare of Easttown”. This production has garnered many positive reviews for its lead actor, Mark Ruffalo.

Actor Mark Ruffalo, famous for his role in “The Poor Things”, stars as Tom Brandis – an FBI agent based in Philadelphia who heads a task force investigating a string of violent robberies in the city. With prior HBO drama experience, having played leading roles in 2020’s “I Know This Much Is True”, Ruffalo is receiving some of the best critical acclaim of his career for this role. In an article for The Wrap, Zaki Hasan lavishes praise on Ruffalo’s performance in “Task”, stating that it represents some of his finest work on television to date.

In a more conversational style, the sentence could be rephrased as: Mark Ruffalo delivers one of his most compelling television performances, portraying a man who carries his suffering like a protective shield. His character Tom is compassionate yet burdened, occasionally frustratingly enigmatic, but always convincing.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself utterly captivated by the intricate cat-and-mouse game presented in “Task”. This film has earned a well-deserved “Critic’s Choice” label from Variety’s Alison Herman. What truly sets this movie apart is Mark Ruffalo’s exceptional portrayal of Tom Brandis. His performance, in my opinion, showcases remarkable depth that seamlessly weaves the character’s past into his present, creating a multi-layered and compelling character study. Kudos to Ruffalo for bringing such a rich and nuanced performance to the screen.

In a previous life, Mark Ruffalo’s character portrayed a priest. However, he later switched to carrying a gun and a badge instead. Even with this shift, he still maintains his passion for bird-watching post-transition. This versatility in roles showcases the soulful nature that resonates well with Ruffalo’s empathetic acting style.

The character depth that Mark Ruffalo delivers in his acting is praised even in Brian Tallerico’s review for RogerEbert.com, where he gives it a rating of three out of four stars. He acknowledges the heavy emotional burden the Marvel star shoulders in the role, highlighting its impactful nature.

Tom is a multifaceted character portrayed by Ruffalo, once a priest who now finds himself facing a nearly insurmountable challenge of forgiveness. Ruffalo depicts Tom’s sorrow as a burden he carries on his shoulders, alleviated only when he’s too intoxicated to climb stairs or engrossed in solving a case. This is arguably his most nuanced and impressive performance in recent years.

In an article for The Hollywood Reporter, Angie Han expresses generally negative feelings towards the show, summarizing it as “unfortunately disappointing in multiple aspects.” However, she does offer compliments, particularly noting the dynamic interaction between Mark Ruffalo’s performance and Tom Pelphrey’s portrayal of an antagonist, where their energies seem to clash effectively.

The lively demeanor of Pelphrey and the melancholic aura of Ruffalo create an intriguing dynamic. I found myself yearning for a storyline that allowed these two actors to interact more extensively.

In Alan Sepinwall’s article for Rolling Stone, Mark Ruffalo is highly commended as one of the finest actors of his contemporary generation. However, the reviewer notes that the grim nature of Brad Ingelsby’s script creates an intricate blend with Ruffalo’s abilities, making for a thought-provoking read.

Although Mark Ruffalo showcases his comedic abilities effectively during his portrayal of Bruce Banner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has a tendency to gravitate towards somber content, such as his Emmy-winning performance in HBO’s dismal 2020 miniseries I Know This Much Is True. Combining these aspects results in an endless cycle of melancholy, making the experience of watching the early episodes reminiscent of attempting to climb a muddy hill during a heavy rainstorm.

The series, Task, seems unlikely to become a favorite for repeated viewing due to its dark, intense, and serious content. However, Mark Ruffalo’s acting performance could make it a must-watch.

Besides Elilia Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Raúl Castillo, and Jamie McShane, the series titled “Task” is set to debut on HBO on September 7th. Concurrently, it will be accessible to HBO Max subscribers at the same time.

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2025-08-29 10:09