Raúl Castillo is not the type of actor who plays characters that you ignore. His presence on screen, coupled with his determined gaze, plants us to the ground, and he brings that into so many of his characterizations whether it be an emotionally distant father or the object of someone else’s desire and affection. In Brad Ingelsby’s critically beloved series, Task, Castillo’s Cliff is a man of few words but his eyes are taking in more than you think. It’s a performance of subtle strength, and one that will make you look at this actor in an entirely new way.
You cannot think about Cliff without then thinking about Tom Pelphrey’s Robbie. We meet them together, and their lives are deeply intertwined–their friendship more akin to brotherhood. They don’t judge one another, and they know each other’s darkest secrets and fears. When they enter a tense situation, they communicate with nods and glances, and Castillo and Pelphrey feel like two halves lucky enough to have found the perfect ride or die.
When we see stories with these kinds of bonds, one character usually takes more of a leadership role, but that’s one of the most unexpected qualities that Castillo brings to his characterization of Cliff. He’s patient and intelligent, so he’s biding his time to show his own strengths. When Cliff and Robbie meet up with Ray to discuss a new aspect of their plan, Cliff is the one in charge, but the script and the performances make no big pronouncements or gestures. Cliff and Robbie don’t argue–there’s an understanding between them.
Task’s main plot is a burglary gone wrong, and it transforms into an accidental kidnapping operation with, seemingly, no end. That uncertainty unnerves Cliff, and it physically manifests in Castillo’s body. He stands at a distance from other people, and it’s clear that he doesn’t like it when plans are not meticulously planned. When they take their young ward, Sam, for a swim, Cliff’s face is noticeably worried when the youngster tells Robbie that he’s ready to go home. It’s a small change in Castillo’s visage that I had to ask him about.
In the first episode, as Cliff and Robbie do some intel on a possible mark, Cliff tells Robbie that he doesn’t like how a stranger is looking at him. Robbie retorts back, “He’s looking through you like everybody else.” It’s a comment made in brotherly jest, but it might be one that Robbie regrets.
Task currently streams on HBO Max.
