MCU profile: A look at Mark Ruffalo’s career

As a film enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of some truly remarkable actors, I must say that Mark Ruffalo stands out as one of the most versatile and captivating performers of our time. His journey within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Bruce Banner/Hulk might have overshadowed his work in other films, but make no mistake, his performances in projects like Foxcatcher, Spotlight, and Poor Things are nothing short of extraordinary.

Edward Norton remains unique as the only actor to headline a standalone Hulk film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, he is among a select few whose roles were recast in the expansive series comprising more than 30 movies and 10 television shows. Mark Ruffalo made his debut in the Marvel universe a dozen years ago in the first Avengers blockbuster, demonstrating an exceptional ability to embody the duality of Banner/Hulk more effectively than any previous actor. Remarkably, Ruffalo achieved this in a team-up event, while Norton and pre-MCU Eric Bana had an entire movie dedicated to their portrayal of the hero.

Mark Ruffalo resonated deeply with audiences more than any previous portrayal of this character, significantly elevating the potential for an engaging live-action performance and strengthening the Avengers team dynamic. By doing so, he provided a crucial boost to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, helping it reach unprecedented popularity. With no individual projects demanding his attention, Ruffalo dedicated all of his energy to the Avenger sagas.

In the movie “Age of Ultron,” Mark Ruffalo portrayed multiple aspects of Bruce Banner’s character, suggesting that he yearned for something beyond his heroic existence as he developed feelings for Natasha Romanoff. Moreover, Ruffalo’s Hulk expressed his terror of his monstrous side causing harm to innocents. The Scarlet Witch cast a spell on the Hulk, leading him to wreak havoc in an African city, potentially endangering citizens and targeting Tony Stark, his fellow scientist.

Mark Ruffalo’s motion capture performance as the Hulk is exceptional, creating a character whose ferocity arises from a questionable inner self – Ruffalo’s portrayal of Banner carries a persistent sadness that resonates deeply with viewers. In the movie Age of Ultron, he departs disheartened from humanity. Mark Ruffalo’s most notable appearance outside the Avengers team is in Thor: Ragnarok. With his captivating chemistry with Chris Hemsworth taking center stage, Ruffalo’s supporting role significantly enhances the film’s reputation as the best installment in the Thor series.

In the epic saga of Ragnarok, Banner finds himself increasingly entrenched in his separate personas. This gives Mark Ruffalo ample room to refine and significantly alter the character, imbuing him with intelligence and thoughtfulness. Initially, Banner is enslaved within his Hulk persona, serving as a gladiator on Sakaar. Upon being liberated by Thor, his internal turmoil escalates, revealing that he can no longer switch forms at will. Eventually, the Hulk emerges to engage in combat against Hela on Asgard.

In the sequence that follows, Hulk remains large, green, and aggressive during his confrontation with Thanos in the opening scene of Infinity War. Since he loses the fight, Heimdall teleports him to New York’s Sanctum Sanctorum. From then on in Infinity War, Ruffalo delves deeper into Bruce’s internal struggles, finding himself unable to summon Hulk again.

In the introduction to “Endgame”, he persists in his role akin to Bruce, donning the Hulkbuster Mark to finally defeat Thanos once and for all. By the time the Avengers embark on their time-traveling quest, five years have passed, and Bruce has found a method to reconcile his two personas, becoming Permanent Smart Hulk. Remarkably, Ruffalo continues to excel in portraying the evolution of this hero; he portrays both Bruce and the Hulk simultaneously.

In addition to making substantial contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ruffalo also made some entertaining guest appearances in “Iron Man 3” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” and he revisited his Smart Hulk character arc in the Disney Plus series “She-Hulk: Attorney At Law.” In this series, he shows his usual humor when paired with Tatiana Maslany. The premiere episode features Hulk teaching his cousin how to navigate the world of superpowers.

Mark Ruffalo had already made a significant impact in the entertainment industry prior to his role in The Avengers. He began his career in the 1990s, taking on minor roles like Ryan Phillipe’s friend in 54 and a Union soldier in Ang Lee’s Western set during the Civil War, Ride with the Devil. However, it was Kenneth Lonergan’s 2000 drama, You Can Count on Me, that truly catapulted him to fame. In this film, Ruffalo played a character who entered his sister’s life candidly and unreservedly, using methods of parenting that were sometimes unwelcome when interacting with his nephew.

As a dedicated fan, I must admit that not all of his earlier films left as lasting an impression as “You Can Count on Me,” but in the 2000s, he certainly made his mark by collaborating with Robert Redford and James Gandolfini in “The Last Castle” and sharing screen time with Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater in “Windtalkers.” Mark Ruffalo’s fame grew with romantic comedies like “13 Going on 30,” “Rumor Has It,” and “Just Like Heaven.” However, it was in independent films such as “My Life Without Me” and “We Don’t Live Here Anymore” where his talent truly shone. In the former, he played a man who falls for Sarah Polley’s terminally ill character, and in the latter, he had an affair with Naomi Watts’ character.

The critically acclaimed film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” co-created by Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman, played a significant role in the ascent of a rising star. This movie, which is hard to classify but effortlessly captivating, left an indelible mark on everyone involved. Among them was Mark Ruffalo, who injected his character, the memory erasure technician, with a rebellious punk rock spirit.

As Ruffalo began taking on more challenging roles, some were found in films that lacked authenticity, like the remake of “All the King’s Men” or Terry George’s misstep following up “Hotel Rwanda,” titled “Reservation Road.” In contrast, David Fincher’s “Zodiac” was remarkably powerful across the board. The film’s tone is exceptional and the ensemble cast, featuring three future Marvel Cinematic Universe actors – Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Ruffalo – deliver performances that are utterly compelling.

Fernando Meirelles’ film Blindness, nearly as impressive, features Ruffalo playing a doctor who loses his sight, alongside a collapsing society. Despite grappling with an inexplicable calamity himself, he strives to instill hope among those around him. Towards the end of the decade, Ruffalo collaborated with two esteemed directors – Rian Johnson on The Brothers Bloom and Spike Jonze on the adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. Regrettably, these movies share a commonality (apart from Ruffalo) in that they are considered their directors’ least memorable works within their individual portfolios.

Despite starting his career earlier, Mark Ruffalo significantly improved his acting abilities as his finest work was primarily produced from the 2010s through the 2020s. He shone in films like “The Kids Are All Right” and “Shutter Island“, two roles that displayed a remarkable versatility, reflecting his deep dedication to his profession. In “The Kids Are All Right“, he radiated openness and energy, igniting a spark in Lisa Cholodenko’s sperm donor dramedy. Conversely, he demonstrated resilience and consistency in a enigmatic role within Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed thriller masterpiece, “Shutter Island“.

Following the release of Kenneth Lonergan’s acclaimed film Margaret, he collaborated again with the director on a movie filmed long ago. This film contains a deeply moving scene between Ruffalo and Anna Paquin that explores the aftermath of a bus accident on him and his family. It was during the early 2010s when Ruffalo became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Although he appeared in Thanks for Sharing, Now You See Me, and Begin Again around this time, Ruffalo’s massive cultural influence as Bruce Banner eclipsed his involvement in those films.

After wrapping up my role in “Age of Ultron,” I stumbled upon a golden streak that saw me deliver some of the finest performances of my gaming career. In the midst of this action, I managed to excel in both “Foxcatcher” and “Spotlight.” The caliber of writing and direction in these movies demanded acting of exceptional quality, and I was honored to rise to the challenge.

In the years that followed, he continued his work by delivering impactful, real-world storytelling in Dark Waters – a film directed by Todd Haynes exposing DuPont’s chemical pollution issues. More recently, in this current decade, The Adam Project offered a competent science fiction narrative, although Zoe Saldana made the most lasting impact among the cast members. Later on, Ruffalo reappeared with great intensity in Poor Things – an offbeat Frankenstein-inspired story directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, where Ruffalo’s unscrupulous lawyer character is depicted laughing, having affairs, arguing, and dancing in a hilarious yet spectacular manner.

Mark Ruffalo’s Top 10 Movie Roles

Duncan Wedderburn from “Poor Things

Mark Ruffalo’s finest performances can be summed up as a three-way tie between “Poor Things”, “Foxcatcher”, and “Spotlight”. However, his portrayal of the Hulk remains in his top 10. Lately, his film work has decreased, both within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other productions. But, he’s compensated for this by being quite active on television.

Generally speaking, many of the shows Mark Ruffalo has starred in would lack significant impact without his involvement. He was instrumental in an impressive ensemble cast for “The Normal Heart“. His captivating dual role as twin brothers can be found in “I Know This Much is True“. In the series “All the Light We Cannot See“, which seems less compelling compared to recent Holocaust miniseries such as “We Were the Lucky Ones” and “The Tattooist of Auschwitz“, Aria Mia Loberti, alongside Ruffalo, add a necessary sense of authenticity to an account that veers off tone.

The TV series “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” proved successful for both Ruffalo and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This legal comedy, which cleverly twists genre conventions, was particularly engaging, with Ruffalo delivering an enjoyable performance in the premiere episode. Moreover, the unexpected disclosure that Hulk fathered a child while on Sakaar hints at potential future collaborations within the MCU. If combined, the Green Goliath, She-Hulk, and Skaar could make an exceptional team.

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2024-10-05 16:31