The Normal Heart
Back in the early 2010s when Mark Ruffalo was between Avengers movies, he signed on to portray writer and activist New Weeks in Ryan Murphy‘s 2014 HBO original film The Normal Heart. Based on the play written by Larry Kramer (the inspiration for the character), the film dives headfirst into the AIDS epidemic in New York City. The movie features an all-star supporting cast of Julia Roberts, Alfred Molina, Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, and Taylor Kitsch, but none compare to the intensity shown by Ruffalo in the leading role. Ruffalo’s commitment to the role, in which he loses himself, provides for one of the most emotional and powerful performances of his career.