Quentin Tarantino’s diatribe over Paul Dano’s alleged non-performance in There Will Be Blood remains the talk of Hollywood.
When Quentin Tarantino spoke to author Bret Easton Ellis a few days ago for his Podcast While discussing the best films of the last few decades, he let himself be carried away with some insulting words about actor Paul Dano.
According to the director, “There Will Be Blood” is almost a perfect film, but Dano ruins everything with his over-the-top acting.
Tarantino described Dano as a “weak, uninteresting guy” and even coldly judged him to be, in his opinion, the “weakest male actor in the Screen Actors Guild.” He then also rounded out Matthew Lillard and Owen Wilson.
Hollywood is behind Paul Dano
While Paul Dano has so far remained silent about the harsh criticism (which is perhaps the best reaction to it), there is a lot of love to be heard from colleagues like Daniel Day-Lewis, Alec Baldwin, Reese Witherspoon and Ben Stiller. They defended Dano with all their might and relegated Tarantino’s thoughts to the realm of slander.
“The Office” comedian Zach Wood even went on the counterattack, saying Tarantino had become a “pompous ass” who was himself a lousy actor.
Ethan Hawke also took a similar approach. The Black Phone 2 star was a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Thursday (December 11) and was asked about the topic. The 55-year-old immediately stood behind Dano.
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“Anyone who knows Quentin knows that he just blabbers, blabbers, blabbers, blabbers,” while “anyone who knows Paul knows that he is a great person and a world-class actor.”
What helps with all the spite exchanged? Maybe watch “There Will Be Blood” again, which for many is THE most important film of the last 25 years, and see for yourself how powerfully Paul Dano plays the clergyman Eli Sunday on the verge of madness.