When Mark Ruffalo played Bruce Banner , was it well - received by critics and audiences ?
Through a chance meeting with writer Kenneth Lonergan , Ruffalo began collaborating with Lonergan and appeared in several of his plays , including the original cast of " This is Our Youth " ( 1998 ) , which led to Ruffalo 's role as Laura Linney 's troubled , aimless drifter brother Terry in Lonergan 's acclaimed , Academy Award - nominated 2000 film " You Can Count on Me " .