Matthew Lillard Addresses Quentin Tarantino‘s Criticism, Acknowledging Hollywood’s Divide
Raleigh, NC – Actor Matthew Lillard publicly responded to recent harsh critiques from director Quentin Tarantino, acknowledging the sting of the comments and highlighting a perceived disconnect between fan reception and industry opinion. Lillard addressed the situation Saturday at GalaxyCon, where Tarantino had previously singled him out as an actor he “doesn’t care for” alongside Paul Dano and Owen Wilson.
The exchange underscores a broader tension within Hollywood, where critical acclaim doesn’t always translate to widespread industry acceptance. Tarantino’s remarks, initially made on a podcast while discussing his favorite 21st-century films, ignited debate about performance evaluation and the subjective nature of artistic judgment. Lillard’s response offers a rare glimpse into the emotional impact of such public criticism on working actors, and the differing worlds of fan appreciation versus directorial preference.
Tarantino initially criticized Lillard, Dano, and Wilson during a discussion of Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood. He specifically called Dano “weak sauce” and a “weak sister,” arguing his performance diminished the film, which Tarantino ranked at No. 5 on his list of the century’s best.He stated Dano’s presence made the film feel less like a two-hander, despite being intended as such. He further clarified he wasn’t condemning Dano’s performance quality,but rather it’s lack of impact,describing it as a “non-entity.”
Lillard acknowledged the situation at GalaxyCon, stating, “I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood.” He added that the criticism “hurts,” notably given the keen reception he receives from fans at conventions.
The comments prompted a defense of Dano from director Matt Reeves, who praised the actor as “amazing” both professionally and personally via X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. Dano himself has not publicly responded to Tarantino’s remarks. The initial criticism surfaced earlier this week, following the release of a Hollywood reporter article detailing Tarantino’s podcast comments. A TikTok video of Lillard’s response, shared by @little_spooks, also garnered attention, though it was met with some negative reactions from viewers.
