Mark Ruffalo stars in “Dark Waters” (3.5/4 stars), a true story about Robert Bilott, a lawyer who exposed Dupont’s pollution practices in a small West Virginia town. Bilott’s work helped so many lives and brought light to an insidious 21st century problem that has been cultivating since the mid 20th century.
You can easily see Ruffalo’s passion for the film in his performance, and he’s offered that same emotion in his on-screen work for over 20 years. He’s delivered many, many memorable moments during his fruitful career in films like “13 Going on 30” (2004), “The Brothers Bloom” (2008), “Margaret” (2011), “Begin Again” (2013), “Infinitely Polar Bear” (2014), “Foxcatcher” (2014), and more, but let’s look his five most essential performances, and note that his work in “Dark Waters” is probably his sixth.
“Dark Waters” opens in Phoenix theatres on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Mark Ruffalo in “You Can Count on Me” (2000)
Terry, “You Can Count on Me” (2000) – Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan earned a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination in his directorial debut, a soulful family drama about Sammy (Laura Linney) - a lending officer and single mom - taking in her irresponsible brother Terry (Ruffalo) for a short while.
Linney garnered plenty of accolades too with a Best Actress Oscar nomination, and Ruffalo’s portrayal of an unfocused, unreliable drifter is the breakout role that eventually led to a supporting turn in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004) and Jennifer Garner’s love interest in “13 Going on 30” (2004). Speaking of ages 13 and 30, Terry owns a serious case of arrested development, but Sammy hopes that he might still be a good influence on her young son. The other men in Sammy’s life have fallen short, but can she count on her brother Terry? Oh, we really, really hope so.
Mark Ruffalo as police inspector David Toschi in “Zodiac” (2007)
Police Inspector David Toschi, “Zodiac” (2007) – A serial killer, who calls himself Zodiac, is baffling Northern California police officers and newspaper reporters, and an all-star ensemble cast - including Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, Anthony Edwards, and Ruffalo – are willing pawns in director David Fincher’s sprawling, purposely exhausting crime drama.
While San Francisco Chronicle reporter Paul Avery (Downey Jr.) and cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) track grizzly clues, San Francisco police inspector David Toschi - who carries his gun like Steve McQueen’s Bullitt and has a fondness for animal crackers - hits the pavement with pragmatic sensibilities. All the men feel the stress of continually falling one step behind the killer, and the results impact them in unpredictable ways. Toschi is not immune from the frustration of missing Zodiac’s signs, but perhaps Graysmith, of all people, might eventually point the case in the right direction.
Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Josh Hutcherson, and Mia Wasikowska in The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Paul, “The Kids Are All Right” (2010) – Joni (Mia Wasikowska), 18, and Laser (Josh Hutcherson), 15, are doing just fine. They have two loving and supportive parents, Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) and live comfortably in a wealthy Southern California suburb. They seem it have it all, but Laser wants to know their biological father. Both moms were artificially inseminated by an anonymous sperm donor, so Joni and he arrange to meet him. His name is Paul (Ruffalo).
Director Lisa Cholodenko finds some room for Paul in this modern American family, as this free-spirited restaurant owner takes some hesitant steps forward to meet and connect with his kids and their four-person household in a constantly-engaging comedy/drama. In 2010, “The Kids Are All Right” was a forward-thinking picture, and nine years later, it continues to age well. Meanwhile, all the leads deliver spot-on performances, and Ruffalo is the film’s perfect wildcard, as Paul unloads equal measures of good intentions and awkward moments that ripple throughout the narrative and the aforementioned happy home.
Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk in The Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk, The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2012 – Present) – Bill Bixby, Eric Bana and Edward Norton played live action versions of Dr. Banner, but Ruffalo has enjoyed an eight-year-run as the green gargantuan over a number of marvel films, and his future looks bright for more romping, stomping adventures. Ruffalo carries Banner’s intellectual panache, but also gives the good doctor spaces for emotional vulnerabilities - like having feelings for Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) – but he also can rip amusing one-liners to keep up with the refreshingly-comic Thor (Chris Hemsworth). These days, Banner and Hulk are bosom buddies, and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) recently introduced audiences to a new version of the character: Professor Hulk. He is an intellectual smashing machine, so Ruffalo has zero reason to be angry. Just the opposite, actually, as MCU fans and he are all smiles!
Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight (2015).
Mike Rezendes, “Spotlight” (2015) – Four reporters – Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson (Michael Keaton), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James), and Mike Rezendes (Ruffalo) - make up The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team, and they dive into long, investigative stories that could take a year to come together. In 2001, the paper’s new editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) suggests that someone follow up on a specific sexual abuse case involving the Catholic Church by filing a motion to lift a seal on court documents. Many wish to proceed with caution, but not Rezendes.
“He wants to sue the church? Hey, that’s great,” Rezendes says.
The reporters soon discover that the Boston Archdiocese is involved in a vastly larger conspiracy, so Robinson, Pfeiffer, Carroll, and Rezendes persistently knock on doors, ask questions, look for documents, and chronicle their findings. Director Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” presents the very best of journalism, as Keaton, McAdams, d’Arcy James, and Ruffalo play reporters who pursue one thing: the truth. In 2019, journalists who report the truth are under siege more than any other time in recent memory, so McCarthy’s film and the actors’ first-rate work are precious reminders of the Fourth Estate’s vital importance.
Jeff – a member of the Phoenix Critics Circle – has penned film reviews since 2008, graduated from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and is a certified Rotten Tomatoes critic. Follow Jeff and the Phoenix Film Festival on Twitter @MitchFilmCritic and @PhoenixFilmFest, respectively.
