Paul Dano Breaks Silence on Quentin Tarantino’s Senseless Diss

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Last December, acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino – known for films like Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – appeared on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and shared his picks for the ten best movies of the 21st century. As a passionate film enthusiast, it’s no surprise Tarantino compiled such a list. However, he also used the opportunity to criticize several well-known actors, with particularly strong criticism directed at Paul Dano, who starred in The Batman.

Paul Dano appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 film, There Will Be Blood, which Quentin Tarantino ranked fifth on his list of favorites. However, Tarantino has criticized Dano’s performance, suggesting the film could have been even better with a different actor. He specifically stated that Dano was a weak point in an otherwise excellent movie, and that Austin Butler would have been a better fit for the role, describing Dano as an uninteresting and weak performer, even calling him the weakest actor in the Screen Actors Guild.

Paul Dano didn’t publicly respond to Quentin Tarantino’s recent comments, but many others defended him. George Clooney, accepting an award, called Tarantino’s remarks “cruel” and expressed his eagerness to work with Dano, as well as Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, all of whom were targeted by the director. Scriptwriter Mattson Tomlin praised Dano as a “terrific actor.” Most recently, at the Sundance Film Festival, Toni Collette, Dano’s former costar in Little Miss Sunshine, sharply criticized Tarantino when asked about the comments during a screening celebrating the film’s 20th anniversary. According to Variety, Collette said, “Are we really going there? F that guy! He must’ve been high… it was just confusing. Who does that?”

After the initial response, Dano finally spoke about the situation himself. He shared how happy he was to see so much positive feedback on social media about his work, especially after Quentin Tarantino criticized it. “It was really nice,” Dano said. “I was also very grateful that people supported me, so I didn’t have to defend myself.”

Paul Dano Keeps It Classy Responding to Quentin Tarantino’s Insults


Carla Van Wagoner/Future Image/Cover Images; Instar

Quentin Tarantino’s remarks were surprising because he didn’t just critique Paul Dano’s acting in There Will Be Blood – where Dano plays a self-centered preacher facing off against Daniel Day-Lewis’s determined oilman – he seemed to be personally attacking Dano. While actress Naomi Collette was right to call it strange behavior, it’s not unusual for Tarantino to make controversial statements. It’s anyone’s guess what other opinions he’ll express before, or if, he directs another film.

Paul Dano seems to be gaining momentum with some promising new projects. He’s starring in the upcoming crime comedy, The Chaperones, and the psychological thriller, Bunker. These films might even change Quentin Tarantino’s opinion of him.

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2026-01-29 02:49