Mattโค Reeves Defends Paul โDano Following Criticism From Quentin Tarantino
LOS ANGELES – Director Matt Reevesโค publicly defended actor โฃPaul Dano on โThursday, responding to recent comments made by โขQuentin Tarantinoโฃ that disparaged โDano’s performance in the 2007 film Thereโ Willโ Be Blood.Reeves, who directed Dano as The Riddlerโค inโฃ the 2022 blockbuster The Batman, praisedโฃ Dano as both an โข”incredible actor” โฃand “an incredible person” in a postโ on X (formerly Twitter).
The exchange highlights a clash in critical opinion regarding Dano, a consistently sought-after performer โwho has worked with some โขof Hollywood’s most acclaimed directors. Tarantino’s remarks, madeโ during an โคappearance on The Bret easton โEllis Podcast, have ignited debate amongโ film enthusiasts and raised questions about โthe subjective โnature of acting assessment, notablyโ as Reeves โprepares to begin productionโฃ on โ Theโ Batman Part II.
Tarantino described Dano’s role in There โคWill Be Blood, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis, as a “big giant flaw”โค that prevented โขtheโฃ film from reaching its full potential. “And theโ flaw is Paul Dano,” he stated.”Obviously, โคit’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obviousโข that it’s not a two-hander. โฆ Heโ is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister.” He further clarified that he found Dano’s performance to be a “non-entity,” alsoโฃ expressing his dislike for actors โฃOwen Wilsonโข and matthew Lillard.
Despite Tarantino’s criticism, Dano has earned โขaccolades throughout his career,โ collaborating with directors including Steven Spielberg and Denis Villeneuve. Reeves’ public support comes as heโ prepares to shoot Theโ Batman Part II, with Scarlettโข Johansson recently entering final negotiations to join the cast inโฃ an undisclosed role.
