Quentin Tarantino slams Paul Dano, Owen Wilson in podcast rant
Quentin Tarantino came out looking for blood when he revealed, in no uncertain terms, how much he dislikes Paul Dano, whom he called “the weakest male actor,” and other actors he “really can’t stand.”
The 62-year-old two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter shared his insights while revealing his best films of the 21st century — which featured “There Will Be Blood” at No. 5 — during an episode of Bret Easton Ellis’ eponymous podcast.
“‘There Will be Blood’ would have a good chance of being No. 2 or No. 2 if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw…and the flaw is Paul Dano,” the “Pulp Fiction” writer-director said, according to multiple media outlets. “[Dano] It’s weak sauce, man. She’s the weak sister. … He’s just such a weak, weak, uninspiring guy.
Tarantino, who advocated casting a then-teenage Austin Butler in place of Dano, doubled down on the strength of Day-Lewis’ performance, asking, “So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG? The world’s weakest asshole?”
But Tarantino didn’t stop at Dano, 41, who earned a BAFTA nomination for his work in Paul Thomas Anderson’s must-see 2007 film.
Film journalist Jamie Graham disputed that “being weak and weasel is the whole point” of Dano’s role.
“I’m not saying he gives a terrible performance,” Tarantino clarified. “I say it gives a non-entity [performance]. I don’t care. I don’t care about Owen Wilson, I don’t care about Matthew Lillard.
“There Will Be Blood” actor Dillon Freasier told TMZ, “Everyone was perfectly cast.”
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” star Simu Liu also crowned Dano “an incredible actor.”
Tarantino elaborated on his disdain for Wilson, 57, while discussing Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” which landed at No. 10 on his list.
“I really can’t stand Owen Wilson,” Tarantino said. “I spent the first time watching the movie loving it and hating it.” It softened somewhat on the second viewing, and with the third, “I found myself just watching it.”
It’s unclear how “Scream” star Lillard, 55, figured into the conversation, which sits behind a paywall on Ellis’ Patreon.
