Mark Ruffalo opens up about his role as Tom in Task being 'harder than he thought'

He also mentioned that it was difficult for Mark to play Tom Brandis.

The final episode of Mark Ruffalo’s show Task tied up several storylines while giving the lead character, FBI agent Tom Brandis, a moment of reflection.

Tom, a distraught agent, had been investigating and attempting to prevent a string of violent robberies committed by an apparently normal family man over the course of the previous six episodes. He is given a silent, reflective moment in the finale, which is conveyed through a masterfully restrained monologue.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Mark Ruffalo recently shared his thoughts on playing Tom during a press conference. Discussing his courtroom scene in the finale, where he chooses to forgive his stepson, Mark said, “It was a moment I was really nervous about. At the end of the day I started to feel that the simpler it was, the more we didn't know what this was going to be and how this was going to go, the more impactful it would become.”

He also reflected on the broader themes of the show, saying, “What is the function of faith in society? Outside of virtue-signalling or being performative? What does it really look like when one includes empathy, forgiveness… How we rely on God, and rely on each other and the humanity that surrounds us, is what Task asks, according to me.”

He also mentioned that it was difficult for Mark to play Tom Brandis. The character, a former priest who is now an FBI agent, is grieving over his adopted son, who is incarcerated for killing his wife. Rather than using dramatic dialogue, Tom's suffering is largely expressed through silences and nuanced facial expressions.

Mark added, “The story, the journey he has to go through… it was harder than what I thought it was going to be. It was a lot. The world is heavy, and to add to that heaviness… I feel we are aching for a catharsis. We are left with so little grace, so little joy, so little beauty in human interaction.”

Also read: Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo among 1,200 celebrities pledging to not work with Israeli Film Institutions

All episodes of Task are currently streaming on JioHotstar.

The show also stars Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Martha Plimpton, Alison Oliver, Fabien Frankel, Thuso Mbedu, Raul Castillo, and Silvia Dionicio. It is created by Brad Inglesby, who previously made Mare of Easttown with Kate Winslet.