Actors Rally To Support Paul Dano Following Tarantino’s Critique

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Many actors are showing support for Paul Dano after director Quentin Tarantino publicly criticized him in a recent podcast interview. Tarantino made his comments during an appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, where he was discussing his favorite films from the 21st century.

Quentin Tarantino highlighted Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood as a top film, ranking it at number five. However, he explained it could have been his number one pick if not for one significant issue: Paul Dano’s performance. Tarantino bluntly described Dano as “weak sauce” and even called him “the weakest actor in the Screen Actors Guild.”

In the 2007 film, Dano played the roles of Paul and Eli Sunday, earning widespread acclaim for his performance. However, director Quentin Tarantino has criticized Dano’s acting, sparking a wave of support from other actors who have come to his defense. Here’s a look at some of the actors who have spoken up for Dano.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller is a well-known comedic actor, famous for movies like Dodgeball and Zoolander. But he’s also proven he can take on serious roles, as seen in films like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Meyerowitz Stories. Beyond acting, Stiller has directed popular projects, including the film Tropic Thunder and the recent TV series Severance.

After Quentin Tarantino’s remarks, Ben Stiller publicly supported Paul Dano on X (formerly Twitter), calling him “f-ing brilliant.” Stiller and Dano previously collaborated on the Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora, where Stiller served as director and executive producer.

Simu Liu

Simu Liu first became well-known for his work on the sitcom Kim’s Convenience, but he’s now most famous for playing Shang-Chi in the Marvel movie of the same name. Recently, the Marvel actor shared his appreciation for Paul Dano on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “I think Paul Dano is an incredible actor.”

Since first appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Simu Liu has also starred in movies like Barbie, Arthur the King, and Last Breath. He’s scheduled to return as Shang-Chi in the 2026 film Avengers: Doomsday.

Josh Gad

Josh Gad is known for both his acting and musical talents. He received a Tony Award nomination for his performance as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon, and is widely recognized as the voice of Olaf in Disney’s Frozen movies. He also famously played LeFou in the 2017 live-action version of Beauty and the Beast.

Josh Gad recently praised Paul Dano on Threads, declaring him one of the greatest actors working today. Many other actors seemed to agree! Gad is busy with upcoming projects, including The Angry Birds Movie 3 and Spaceballs 2, the latter of which he also helped write.

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin is a well-established actor known for his work in critically praised films such as The Departed, The Aviator, Glengarry Glen Ross, and The Cooler. He’s also proven his comedic skills in lighter roles like The Boss Baby and The Cat in the Hat, as well as through his memorable performances on 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.

Alec Baldwin shared a video on Instagram praising actor Paul Dano, jokingly telling anyone who doesn’t like him to be quiet. Many people agreed with Baldwin, including actor Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond, who simply commented, “Me too.”

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon has had a remarkably varied and successful career in film and television. She’s known for starring in popular comedies like Legally Blonde and the biographical drama Walk the Line, which earned her an Academy Award. More recently, she’s received praise for her work in television series like Big Little Lies and The Morning Show.

Reese Witherspoon previously collaborated with director Paul Thomas Anderson on the 2014 film Inherent Vice, and she recently shared her admiration for Paul Dano on Threads. She described him as “an incredibly gifted, versatile actor,” but also emphasized his kindness, saying, “More importantly, he is a gentleman.” Witherspoon highlighted not only Dano’s talent, but also his good character.

Colleen Foy

Jordin Althaus / ©Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Several of Paul Dano’s co-stars from There Will Be Blood have publicly voiced their support for him. Colleen Foy, who played his character’s sister Mary Sunday, shared on Threads that she thought Dano gave a fantastic performance. She also mentioned an interesting detail: she sat behind Quentin Tarantino during a screening and observed that his reaction to Dano’s work was different from what she expected.

Paul Dano and I acted as siblings in the film There Will Be Blood, and his performance was truly outstanding. I happened to sit behind Quentin Tarantino during a screening for the cast and crew, and he was clearly very engaged with Paul’s work. That’s why his recent statements seem to contradict what I witnessed that night.

Foy’s remarks add a new perspective to the situation. It’s possible Tarantino feels differently now than he did after the initial viewing.

Dillon Freasier

Dillon Freasier, who played young H.W. Plainview in There Will Be Blood, believes the movie is a masterpiece. Though it’s his only film role, he made a memorable impact as Daniel Plainview’s son. In an interview with TMZ, Freasier stated, “The film is perfect. It’s a work of art. And that’s because everyone was perfectly cast.”

He believes the movie succeeds because of the strong teamwork of the entire cast, praising Paul Dano alongside all the other actors. It’s a recognition of their collective talent and how effectively they tell the story.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis received the 2008 Best Actor Oscar for his role as Daniel Plainview in the movie There Will Be Blood. He and Paul Dano had several memorable moments together, including the famous “I drink your milkshake” scene. Although Quentin Tarantino thinks Dano’s performance was weak, Daniel Day-Lewis disagrees.

I was so moved by the recent clips Daniel Day-Lewis posted on Instagram from the film! Seeing that intense scene with Paul Dano – where his character makes Day-Lewis’s character confront abandoning his son – was really powerful. And the caption Day-Lewis wrote? He said Paul Dano is one of the best actors of his generation, and honestly, I completely agree. Dano is phenomenal!

Daniel Day-Lewis has received six Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and won three times. Widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time, his recent compliment to Paul Dano, his co-star in There Will Be Blood, highlights the high regard many have for Dano’s abilities.

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2025-12-11 04:00