The following article contains spoilers for Task.MCU star Mark Ruffalo is currently in the spotlight after having played one of the most compelling television characters of the year. FBI agent Tom Brandis is the lead in the HBO Max crime miniseries Task, also starring Tom Pelphrey (Ozark) and created by Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown). Ruffalo and Pelphrey shine, playing two characters on opposite sides. The duo only get a few minutes of screen time together, but they include some astounding acting and writing. According to Ruffalo, an off-camera strategy was essential to landing the tone — a technique identical to the one director Michael Mann used when he kicked the actor off the set of Collateral so he wouldn’t meet his antagonist.
Task wrapped this past Sunday with an intense and dramatic conclusion that saw Ruffalo’s Brandis face a dangerous crossroads. Unfortunately, Pelphrey’s character, Robbie Prendergrast, had already met his demise in the previous episode, but his last actions before his death were important enough to have an impact on the ending.
Ruffalo and Ingelsby recently spoke to Deadline about the show, with the showrunner and writer saying HBO wasn’t sure whether they could get Ruffalo to star in it. Fortunately, he was convinced by the script. When asked if the show would have been the same without Pelphrey’s contribution, Ruffalo stated emphatically that he agrees “one thousand percent” that the Ozark actor was a key piece. He also described Pelphrey’s avoidance during filming: “He stayed away from me. I’d see him and be like, ‘Hey’…and he would just keep going.” It was at this moment that the actor shared the anecdote of shooting Collateral, and Mann kicking him off the set when Ruffalo wanted to meet Tom Cruise off camera:
“Michael Mann would do something similar. When I was doing Collateral, I came to set one day, and he kicked me off set because I walked over to say hi to Tom [Cruise], and [Mann] saw me, and he’s like, ‘Get him off.’ Literally, I got the hook. Michael Mann did the same thing with Heat, with [Al] Pacino and [Robert] De Niro — he wanted to keep them apart the whole time.”
‘Collateral’: Michael Mann’s Modern Masterpiece With an A-List Cast
Michael Mann’s Collateral is arguably his most underappreciated movie, featuring formidable performances from its star-studded cast. Ruffalo’s short appearance is gripping, with the young actor getting a chance to show his chops at a turning point in his career (it was the same year his performance in 13 Going on 30 put him in the spotlight as a strong romantic lead). But Collateral was mainly a showcase for Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx — the latter of whom starred in Ray the same year, earning an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
If you haven’t seen it, the film is a gripping journey that sees Foxx’s cab driver Max trapped in the most dangerous night of his life. The role in Collateral earned Foxx another nomination at the same Academy Awards ceremony, in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category; still, Cruise’s portrayal of a sociopath remains the most memorable aspect of the movie.
It’s one of the few times Cruise hasn’t played a good guy (Interview With the Vampire is also a remarkable villain performance). The Top Gun star displays impressive range, playing a cold, methodical assassin far from his usual heroic persona. Definitely one skillful assassin you don’t want to mess with or have as a client.
- Release Date
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August 6, 2004
- Runtime
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120 minutes