Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has triggered quite the firestorm. His unsolicited barbs about actors Paul Dano, Matthew Lillard, and Owen Wilson were made on Bret Easton Ellis’s podcast. Tarantino’s comments were met with backlash from some fans and more notably with actor George Clooney. Clooney quickly spoke out against all this, publicly asserting that the attack against artists was reprehensible.
In his now-infamous podcast, Tarantino went after Paul Dano, saying he was “such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy. He even had the temerity to call him “the weakest fucking actor” currently in the Screen Actors Guild. He remarked how he’s never been a fan of Dano’s performances in his movies. Tarantino went on to share his contempt for Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard. In modern parlance, he might have put it like this: “I’m not fond of” either performer.
Clooney, who starred alongside Tarantino in the director’s 1996 film “From Dusk Till Dawn,” said that he was disturbed by Tarantino’s remarks. Their personal and professional relationship has seen its own storms over the years. In the wake of Tarantino’s comments, Clooney took to the press to express his irritation, as recently as this past weekend.
“Quentin said some shit about me recently, so I’m a little irritated by him,” – George Clooney
Clooney emphasized the importance of kindness in the industry. His message encouraged actors to empower one another rather than participate in a performative culture of cruelty. He expressed admiration for Dano, Lillard, and Wilson, saying, “By the way, Paul Dano and Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, I would be honoured to work with those actors. Honoured.”
The actor was careful to reflect on the broader implications of Tarantino’s critiques. He insisted that conversations concerning actors should be guided by love and respect. In my experience, most the people who work in this industry have a profound love for their performers.
“We are living in a time of cruelty,” – George Clooney
“We don’t need to be adding to it.” – George Clooney
Matthew Lillard, for his part, took to social media to say that Tarantino’s comments were directly destructive. He emphasized creating an environment of support among stakeholders rather than one of actors shooting criticism over a wall at each other.
Tarantino’s remarks are not limited to personal critiques. He shared his opinion on films, stating that he ranks “There Will Be Blood” lower than No 5 on his list of the best films of the century due to what he described as a “big, giant flaw” linked to Dano’s role in the film.
So far, we’ve heard nothing from Owen Wilson on this issue.