Paul Dano has responded to Quentin Tarantino’s fierce criticism of his acting skills, thanking those who defended him after the cult director had called him “a weak and uninteresting actor” and “the softest dick in the world”. On Wednesday, Dano told Variety that the reactions of support from colleagues and social media were touching. “It was really nice,” Dano said. “I’m very grateful that the world spoke for me, so I didn’t have to.”
Talking about his favorite 21st century films on Bret Easton Ellis’ podcast in December, Tarantino had put The oilman by Paul Thomas Anderson in fifth place, but he said he would have been first or second without Dano, comparing his performance negatively to that of the film’s star, Daniel Day-Lewis.
«Obviously it should be a film with two protagonists. But it’s also drastically clear that it’s not,” Tarantino told Ellis. «[Dano] It’s weak, man. It’s the weak link. [Day-Lewis] eats him alive. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. [Dano] he’s just a weak, uninteresting actor. Daniel Day-Lewis proves he doesn’t need a strong counterpart. Yes, the film needs it. He doesn’t need anything. It should be a two-lead film and it’s not! …you put him next to the weakest actor in all of SAG? The softest dick in the world?” “I’m not saying he’s offering terrible evidence, I’m saying he’s offering inconsistent evidence… I don’t like it,” concluded Tarantino, also criticizing the acting of Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard.
Many of Dano’s colleagues defended him. A representative for Day-Lewis told the Guardian that the Oscar-winning actor agrees that Dano is among “the best and most talented actors of his generation.”
Reese Witherspoon, who starred with Dano in Anderson’s 2014 film Form defectwrote on social media: «Paul Dano is an incredibly gifted and versatile actor. And, most importantly, he is a gentleman.” Director Matt Reeves, who directed Dano in The Batmanwrote on social media: «Paul Dano is an incredible actor and an incredible person». Ben Stiller described Dano as “fucking brilliant,” while Alec Baldwin shared a video to say: “I love Paul Dano. And if you don’t love Paul Dano, shhh.”
And during an awards ceremony in early January, George Clooney used his speech to say he would be “honored” to work with Dano, Wilson and Lillard, adding: “I don’t like watching people be cruel. We live in an age of cruelty. There is no need to add more.”
Wednesday, on the eve of a 20th anniversary screening of Little Miss Sunshine at the Sundance Film Festival, Dano’s co-star Toni Collette also chimed in, saying of Tarantino: «F*ck that guy! It had to be done… it was just confusing. Who does something like that?”.
The co-director of Little Miss Sunshine Jonathan Dayton called Tarantino’s comments “an embarrassment,” adding: “I can only think that the rawness of his performance made Tarantino uncomfortable. It couldn’t be easily catalogued.”
Lillard also responded to Tarantino’s criticism, saying: «They hurt you. It fucking sucks. And you would never tell that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to someone who’s a major star in Hollywood.”
