Paul Dano responds to Tarantino comments on acting
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 29, 2026, 22:21 IST
From behind a quiet statement, Paul Dano meets Quentin Tarantino’s pointed remarks about There Will Be Blood. Support arrives through voices rising at gatherings where film is honored. Fellow performers speak. Directors add weight without naming names. Words form a shield built slowly over time. Reaction spreads not by force but presence. One critique met with many silences broken just once.
TL;DR
Following criticism from Quentin Tarantino, Paul Dano responded to widespread backing that emerged quietly through festival corridors. Support arrived without warning, voiced by notable names across award gatherings. Notable reactions unfolded gradually, shaping a response less visible but persistent. His reply came later, measured, amid growing acknowledgment from peers within the industry.
Now speaking out, actor Paul Dano responds to the wave of backing that followed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino's pointed critique, his initial reaction made public only after the dispute rippled through cinema circles. At a gathering honoring two decades since Little Miss Sunshine, held as part of the Sundance Film Festival, the subject arose when a journalist from Variety posed the question directly. From there, responses emerged not in haste but measured, shaped by time.
From a recent installment of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast came the initial remarks, where Tarantino listed preferred movies since 2000. Though appreciative of There Will Be Blood, a 2007 work by Paul Thomas Anderson, his approval carried reservations. Because of Dano’s portrayal, the filmmaker found the piece compromised. In his view, the performance lacked strength, seeming dull beside others on screen. This assessment positioned the actor as the core issue within an otherwise respected project.
In the movie, twins named Eli and Paul Sunday were both played by Dano, drawing strong praise when the film came out. Though Tarantino made comments, a reply from Dano did not follow. Instead, during an appearance at Sundance, attention turned to how people had reacted publicly, which he noted with appreciation. “That was really nice,” Dano stated, as reported by Variety. His thanks extended further, the global response meant silence on his part became possible.
Soon after the podcast spread, notable individuals from Hollywood began backing Dano. In a midweek interview, Toni Collette, known for her role with him in Little Miss Sunshine, sharply challenged Tarantino's remarks. Her response raised doubts about why personal critiques must play out publicly. The manner of delivery, she noted, added unnecessary tension.
Last month, via a post on X, Ben Stiller, actor and director, called Dano "f-ing brilliant." On Threads, Reese Witherspoon described him as deeply talented, adaptable, yet also noted his conduct and reliability. These comments reflected a broader unease among professionals, where actions viewed as excessive discipline drew quiet opposition. Yet quietness spread among them, a pause where words might have been, showing doubt without argument.
Last week brought words from George Clooneys lips following a prize win, top male performer, at an AARP ceremony. Never one avoiding the spotlight off screen, he voiced unease about how actors can face unwanted attention when simply walking down streets. Future collaboration with Dano? That possibility brings him respect, he noted. The moment highlighted unease around the tone of feedback among those working in film and television.
Comments made by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris about Dano appeared in Variety. An awkward moment arose, according to Dayton, due to Tarantino's statements; perhaps the strength of Dano’s portrayal disturbed certain people. Respect among peers seems clear, Faris observed, given how many voiced approval following the incident. Though not expected, their response arrived without delay.
So far, silence comes from Tarantino and those who speak for him regarding public reaction. In its wake, questions resurface, not only about boundaries in art but also conduct among figures shaped by spotlight and sway.
Following criticism from Quentin Tarantino, Paul Dano responded to widespread backing that emerged quietly through festival corridors. Support arrived without warning, voiced by notable names across award gatherings. Notable reactions unfolded gradually, shaping a response less visible but persistent. His reply came later, measured, amid growing acknowledgment from peers within the industry.
Now speaking out, actor Paul Dano responds to the wave of backing that followed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino's pointed critique, his initial reaction made public only after the dispute rippled through cinema circles. At a gathering honoring two decades since Little Miss Sunshine, held as part of the Sundance Film Festival, the subject arose when a journalist from Variety posed the question directly. From there, responses emerged not in haste but measured, shaped by time.
From a recent installment of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast came the initial remarks, where Tarantino listed preferred movies since 2000. Though appreciative of There Will Be Blood, a 2007 work by Paul Thomas Anderson, his approval carried reservations. Because of Dano’s portrayal, the filmmaker found the piece compromised. In his view, the performance lacked strength, seeming dull beside others on screen. This assessment positioned the actor as the core issue within an otherwise respected project.
In the movie, twins named Eli and Paul Sunday were both played by Dano, drawing strong praise when the film came out. Though Tarantino made comments, a reply from Dano did not follow. Instead, during an appearance at Sundance, attention turned to how people had reacted publicly, which he noted with appreciation. “That was really nice,” Dano stated, as reported by Variety. His thanks extended further, the global response meant silence on his part became possible.
Soon after the podcast spread, notable individuals from Hollywood began backing Dano. In a midweek interview, Toni Collette, known for her role with him in Little Miss Sunshine, sharply challenged Tarantino's remarks. Her response raised doubts about why personal critiques must play out publicly. The manner of delivery, she noted, added unnecessary tension.
Last month, via a post on X, Ben Stiller, actor and director, called Dano "f-ing brilliant." On Threads, Reese Witherspoon described him as deeply talented, adaptable, yet also noted his conduct and reliability. These comments reflected a broader unease among professionals, where actions viewed as excessive discipline drew quiet opposition. Yet quietness spread among them, a pause where words might have been, showing doubt without argument.
Last week brought words from George Clooneys lips following a prize win, top male performer, at an AARP ceremony. Never one avoiding the spotlight off screen, he voiced unease about how actors can face unwanted attention when simply walking down streets. Future collaboration with Dano? That possibility brings him respect, he noted. The moment highlighted unease around the tone of feedback among those working in film and television.
Comments made by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris about Dano appeared in Variety. An awkward moment arose, according to Dayton, due to Tarantino's statements; perhaps the strength of Dano’s portrayal disturbed certain people. Respect among peers seems clear, Faris observed, given how many voiced approval following the incident. Though not expected, their response arrived without delay.
So far, silence comes from Tarantino and those who speak for him regarding public reaction. In its wake, questions resurface, not only about boundaries in art but also conduct among figures shaped by spotlight and sway.