It Really Sucks That Tarantino Was A Jerk to Paul Dano

Yesterday, we revealed Quentin Tarantino's top movies of the 21st century. It was supposed to be a fun list that we could all debate and relish. But instead, the entire list was overshadowed by what an abject asshole Tarantino was to Paul Dano when he was talking about There Will Be Blood.

Look, I love Quentin Tarantino. I think he's one of the greatest directors of all time. And he's delivered several masterpieces to audiences, as well as a lifetime of pop culture references.

Tarantino is one of the most important figures in all of Hollywood history, a movie store clerk who was able to rise to the upper echelons of the industry.

And yet none of that excuses being a jerk.

Let's dive in.

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Tarantino's Comments on Paul Dano

When talking about his 5th best movie of the 21st Century, There Will Be Blood, on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast, Tarantino started out praising the movie and the performances. But then his comments took a left turn.

“Daniel Day-Lewis. The old-style craftsmanship quality to the film. It had an old Hollywood craftsmanship without trying to be like that. It was the only film he’s ever done, and I brought it up to him, that doesn’t have a set piece. The fire is the closest to a set piece. This was about dealing with the narrative, dealing with the story, and he did it fucking amazingly. ‘There Will Be Blood’ would stand a good chance at being #1 or #2 if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw in it … and the flaw is Paul Dano. Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander. [Dano] is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. He’s just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy. The weakest fucking actor in SAG [laughs].”

As you can see, Tarantino went all in on insulting Dano. It wasn't just about who he was in the movie; it's like who he is in reality. The comments were so harsh that many people wondered if the two of them had personal beef.

Some of them might have been hyperbolic for effects, but for what reason?

I have no idea about that. But I know about personal decorum.

And no matter how you feel about a certain actor or director, there's absolutely no place to be a raging piece of shit about them in public if they haven't personally wronged you or done something abhorrent.

It's mean, it's wrong, and it breaks the only Hollywood rule everyone should know...

Don't Be A Jerk

I don't have the talent of Tarantino; I came to terms with that a long time ago. My place in the halls of Hollywood is just as a worker bee who maybe will get a few good opportunities along the way to be read by some cool people.

But even that level has offered me exposure to lots of stars.

There are plenty of actors and directors I don't like. There are some famous movies I think are overrated, and famous people I think are hacks.

Lots of them. I got a list of haters I started making as an intern, and I've been adding to it every year since.

I tell everyone in my group thread about them. I text my friends. I don't go on giant podcasts and rip into them for existing. I don't do that because I am a hero; I do it because I have manners.

That's really what it boils down to.

I know that the only way for me to keep working in Hollywood is to not be a jerk.

I'll never be famous enough or talented enough to be a weasel like Tarantino, but just because he is, doesn't me he should lean into it.

It's not becoming of a director, and it's shameful as a human being.

I know Tarantino's whole schtick is that he's dressed down and doesn't want to be seen as some sort of highfalutin film critic. His list of the best 21st-century movies shows that, and I think he is really inspired. But his words about Dano show that part of Tarantino never grew up.

Maybe Quentin is still that video store clerk with immense film knowledge from which he can draw his pastiches and build his wonderful art. I applaud him for that; a few of his movies have shaken me and changed who I am at my core.

But if you're the same person you were in your 20s that you are now in your 70s, it seems like you missed out a lot on life.

I can tell Tarantino has seen a lot of movies, but I can also tell he hasn't experienced a lot of humanity. No one who had would have been that insulting.

And for that, I feel bad for him.

Paul Dano, if you ever want to get a coffee, it's on me.

Let me know what you think in the comments.