Matt Reeves Defends Paul Dano Against Tarantino’s Criticism

Quentin Tarantino has ignited backlash by labeling Paul Dano the weakest actor in the Screen Actors Guild during a discussion of his top 21st-century films. The director ranked Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘There Will Be Blood’ at number five, arguing it could have topped his list without Dano’s portrayal of twins Paul and Eli Sunday. Tarantino described Dano’s performance as a “big giant flaw,” calling him “weak sauce” and “uninteresting,” and suggested Austin Butler would have suited the role better.

The comments surfaced on “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast,” where Tarantino named his 20 favorite films since 2000, placing ‘There Will Be Blood’ behind works like ‘No Country for Old Men’ and ‘Inglourious Basterds.’ He emphasized the film’s intended two-hander dynamic between Dano’s preacher character and Daniel Day-Lewis’s oil tycoon Daniel Plainview, claiming Dano failed to match Day-Lewis’s intensity. At 23 during filming, Dano stepped in after original choice Kel O’Neill departed, delivering a performance that earned a BAFTA nomination and critical acclaim for its unsettling fanaticism.

Matt Reeves, director of ‘The Batman,’ swiftly countered on X, stating, “Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person.” Reeves collaborated with Dano on the 2022 DC film, where Dano embodied the Riddler in a role that drew Emmy-level praise for its psychological depth. The defense amplified online support, with over 2,000 X posts in 24 hours praising Dano’s versatility across 25 projects, including ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and ‘The Fabelmans.’

Dillon Freasier, who played Dano’s on-screen brother in ‘There Will Be Blood,’ dismissed Tarantino’s Butler suggestion as illogical, noting Butler was 15 at the time of production while Dano was in his early 20s. Freasier, now 30 and a production coordinator, highlighted the film’s 110-day shoot in Marfa, Texas, where Dano’s preparation involved immersing in Upton Sinclair’s ‘Oil!’ for authentic mannerisms. He affirmed Tarantino’s fandom but called the critique misguided, given the film’s eight Oscar nominations and Day-Lewis’s win.

Tarantino extended his dismissals to Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, admitting no fondness for Dano in other roles. The director, whose latest script ‘The Movie Critic’ targets a 2026 release, has a history of provocative takes, including calling ‘The Hunger Games’ a rip-off of a Japanese novel. Dano, 41, maintains a selective output with five films in the past decade, including a voice role in ‘The Batman’ sequel slated for 2027.

Social media erupted with 15,000 mentions of the feud within hours, trending under #DefendDano and drawing parallels to Tarantino’s past controversies over foot fetishes and dialogue-heavy scripts. Simu Liu echoed Reeves on X, posting, “Paul Dano carries scenes like few others—QT’s missing the point.” The exchange underscores Hollywood’s guild tensions, with SAG-AFTRA representing 160,000 members amid ongoing AI and streaming debates.

‘There Will Be Blood’ grossed $76 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, its 158-minute runtime featuring 40 practical oil rig builds. Dano’s Eli confronts Plainview in a climactic baptism scene shot over three days, blending vulnerability and zeal that critics like Roger Ebert lauded as “mesmerizing.” Tarantino’s podcast appearance, viewed 500,000 times, contrasts Dano’s quiet profile; the actor avoids press, focusing on theater like his 2024 Broadway revival of ‘Dumbwaiter.’

Industry observers note the irony, as Tarantino’s films often elevate ensemble casts, yet his critique overlooks Dano’s influence on prestige TV, including two Emmy nods for ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith.’ Reeves’s support aligns with ‘The Batman”s $770 million haul, where Dano’s Riddler puzzle designs required 200 hours of coding consultations. As Tarantino promotes his 10th and final film, the backlash highlights shifting dynamics where directors’ words face immediate scrutiny from peers and fans alike.

The podcast episode, running 90 minutes, also covered Tarantino’s admiration for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ but Dano’s takedown dominated discourse. Day-Lewis, retired since 2017, once praised Dano to the BBC: “He’d be somebody I’d want on my side in a scrap.” With Dano next starring in Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’ alongside Joaquin Phoenix, the controversy may boost visibility for his understated career arc of 15 leading roles since 2007.