George Clooney Rebukes Tarantino’s Scathing Remarks on Fellow Actors

Quentin Tarantino has found himself on the receiving end of George Clooney’s disapproval after the director’s recent appearance on the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. While discussing his picks for the best films of the century, Tarantino didn’t hold back, singling out Paul Dano’s performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘There Will Be Blood’ as a misstep. He went further, dismissing both Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard as actors he simply “doesn’t care” for.

His assessment of Dano was particularly blunt.

“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... 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 f****** actor in [the Screen Actors Guild].”

Tarantino’s words left little room for ambiguity, and it wasn’t long before they reached the actors in question.

Industry Response and Clooney’s Perspective

Clooney, who once shared the screen with Tarantino in the cult classic ‘From Dusk till Dawn’, made his feelings clear during his acceptance speech at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, where he was honoured for his role in ‘Jay Kelly’. Rather than ignore the controversy, he addressed it head-on, expressing his willingness to collaborate with those Tarantino had criticised.

“By the way, Paul Dano and Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, I would be honoured to work with those actors. Honoured.” Clooney’s remarks, delivered with characteristic poise, were followed by a reflection on the importance of respect within the profession. He noted, “Jay Kelly was made by people who love actors — that’s an important part. People I’ve known most of my life... actually, most of them are actors. I have a great affinity [for them], and I don’t enjoy watching people be cruel. We are living in a time of cruelty. We don’t need to be adding to it.”

Matthew Lillard’s Reaction

The fallout from Tarantino’s comments was felt beyond the awards circuit. Matthew Lillard, best known for his role in ‘Scream’, addressed the matter during a fan event in Ohio. He didn’t attempt to mask his disappointment, sharing candidly with the audience:

“Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn’t like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a s***. It hurts your feelings. It f****** sucks. And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood. I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood. Two totally different microcosms, right? And so, you know, it’s humbling, and it hurts.”

Lillard’s response, tinged with both humour and vulnerability, highlighted the impact such public criticism can have, regardless of one’s standing in the industry.

Tarantino’s Broader Critiques

Tarantino’s appearance on the podcast wasn’t limited to actors. He also took aim at the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, accusing author Suzanne Collins of borrowing heavily from Koushun Takami’s ‘Battle Royale’. His words were as unfiltered as ever:

“I do not understand how the Japanese writer didn’t sue Suzanne Collins for every f****** thing she owns. They just ripped off the f****** book. Stupid book critics are not going to go watch a Japanese movie called Battle Royale, so the stupid book critics never called her on it. They talked about how it was the most original f****** thing they’d ever read. As soon as the film critics saw the film, they said, ‘What the f***? This is just Battle Royale except PG!’”

Such remarks have reignited debates about originality and influence in popular culture, but it’s Tarantino’s pointed comments about his peers that have drawn the most attention — and prompted Clooney’s call for a more considerate approach within the creative community.