Quentin Tarantino Unloads on Owen Wilson and Paul Dano
Quentin Tarantino didn’t hold back on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, sharing his blunt opinions about Owen Wilson and Paul Dano—even as he named films starring both actors among his top picks of the century.
Quentin Tarantino has never been one to mince words, and his latest appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast was no exception. The acclaimed director rattled off his top twenty films of the 21st century, but it was his candid remarks about certain actors that really got people talking. Despite including a film led by Owen Wilson in his list, Tarantino made it clear he’s not a fan of the bloke.
Blunt Words for Wilson
When chatting about Woody Allen’s 2011 film Midnight in Paris, which features Wilson front and centre, Tarantino didn’t sugarcoat his feelings.
“I really can’t stand Owen Wilson,”
he told Easton Ellis, doubling down with,
“I mean, I can’t stand him.”
He went on to describe his experience watching the film for the first time, saying he was torn between enjoying the story and being put off by Wilson’s presence.
“I spent the first time watching the movie loving it and hating him,”
Tarantino admitted. On subsequent viewings, he tried to be less harsh, saying,
“The second time I watched the movie, I was like, ‘Ah, okay, don’t be such a prick. He’s not so bad. He’s not so bad.’ And then the third time I watched it, I found myself watching him.”
So far, Wilson hasn’t responded to any of these comments.
Paul Dano Cops It Too
Wilson wasn’t the only actor to cop a serve. Tarantino also took aim at Paul Dano, who starred in There Will Be Blood, another film that made his top five. Despite ranking it highly, Tarantino reckons Dano’s performance is a major flaw.
“There Will Be Blood would stand a good chance at being one or two if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw in it … and the flaw is Paul Dano.”
He didn’t hold back, adding,
“Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander.”
Tarantino continued,
“He is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. [Dano is] just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy. The weakest fucking actor in SAG [Screen Actors Guild].”
Like Wilson, Dano hasn’t made any public comment about the director’s harsh words.
Tarantino’s Top Picks
Despite his strong opinions about certain actors, Tarantino’s list of favourite films from the past couple of decades is a mixed bag. Here’s how his top twenty stack up:
1. Black Hawk Down
2. Toy Story 3
3. Lost In Translation
4. Dunkirk
5. There Will Be Blood
6. Zodiac
7. Unstoppable
8. Mad Max: Fury Road
9. Shaun of the Dead
10. Midnight in Paris
11. Battle Royale
12. Big Bad Wolves
13. Jackass: The Movie
14. School Of Rock
15. The Passion Of The Christ
16. The Devil’s Rejects
17. Chocolate
18. Moneyball
19. Cabin Fever
20. West Side Story
It’s a line-up that covers everything from war epics to animated adventures, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. Tarantino’s choices—and his unfiltered opinions—are sure to keep film fans and industry insiders talking for a while yet.