Quentin Tarantino’s recent comments about Paul Dano have sparked a wave of reaction across the industry. speaking on Bret Easton Ellis PodcastThe Kill Bill director revisited the 2007 film There Will Be Blood. He argued that Dano weakened the film’s central dynamic.
This comment has sparked a wave of support for Paul Dano throughout the industry.
What Quentin Tarantino said about Paul Dano on podcast
Tarantino listed his top films of the 21st century on the podcast. When he arrived at Paul Thomas Anderson’s historical epic, he called it a “huge, huge flaw”. He claimed the problem was Dano.
Tarantino described him as “weak sauce”, adding that the character paired with Daniel Day-Lewis was supposed to feel like a true two-hander, according to People. The director further said that the film suffered from being anchored by “SAG’s weakest…actor”, a comment that circulated widely after the episode ended.
It didn’t take long for actors, writers and directors to hit back at Tarantino’s comments.
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Matt Reeves and industry colleagues support Paul Dano
The criticism received an immediate response from filmmakers who had worked with Dano. Matt Reeves, who directed The Batman in 2022, said. He described Dano as “an incredible actor and an incredible person”, pointing to the intensity the actor brought to the Riddler in contrast to Robert Pattinson’s Batman.
Reeves’ note sparked a widespread show of support, which continued across the film industry. Mattson Tomlin, screenwriter of the upcoming sequel to The Batman, said, “I’m really pleased to see so many people cheering for Paul Dano this week.” Highlighting his directorial debut Wildlife, he called Dano “a brilliant actor” and “an astonishing director who displays control and tremendous empathy”.
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Ben Stiller followed up with his own brief message of support, writing that “Paul Dano is fantastic.”
Alec Baldwin posted a clip echoing the sentiment. He said, “I love Paul Dano. If you don’t love Paul Dano, shhh.”
The tone was light, but the intention was clear – Dano’s colleagues were not going to let the criticism go unchallenged.
This exchange reignited discussion about Day-Lewis’s performance and Anderson’s direction in the long-praised film There Will Be Blood. However, this time, all the attention has shifted towards the debate over Dano’s role and the subsequent industry reaction.