Quentin Tarantino ignited discussions about a possible Owen Wilson Quentin Tarantino feud after he fiercely criticized the actor during a recent podcast appearance. The acclaimed director’s pointed comments have not only surprised fans but also raised questions about personal dynamics in the film industry.
Tarantino Opens Up on Owen Wilson During Podcast
In a recent episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, Quentin Tarantino, 62, aired his strong opinions regarding Owen Wilson. During the conversation, the director did not hold back, making his stance explicit.
“I really can’t stand Owen Wilson,”
Tarantino stated on the podcast.
“I mean, I can’t stand him.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director.
Despite his criticism of Wilson as a person, Tarantino acknowledged an appreciation for the actor’s role in the film Midnight in Paris, even labeling it his tenth favorite movie of the 21st century. He described his conflicting feelings towards Wilson’s performance while rewatching the movie.
“I spent the first time watching the movie loving it and hating him,”
Tarantino reflected about Midnight in Paris.
“The second time I watched the movie, I was like, ‘Ah, OK, 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.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director.
Owen Wilson’s Acclaimed Role in ‘Midnight in Paris’
In Woody Allen’s 2011 romantic fantasy, Owen Wilson played a screenwriter and aspiring novelist on vacation in Paris, alongside Rachel McAdams. His character, facing personal and creative dilemmas, finds himself traveling back in time each night to interact with legendary figures like Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dalí, and other famous artists, portrayed by Corey Stoll and Adrien Brody respectively.
The movie’s surreal concept particularly appealed to Tarantino.
“The surrealists were really funny. I like the idea that he’s trying to describe his time-travel thing to them, and it’s the only people who completely get it,”
Tarantino said of the film’s storyline.
“Well, of course you get it, you’re surrealists!”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director.
Owen Wilson’s nuanced performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination, while Midnight in Paris also received four Academy Award nods and won Best Original Screenplay.
Tarantino Airs Grievances with Other Actors
Tarantino’s critique of Owen Wilson follows similar remarks about Paul Dano. On the same podcast, Tarantino named There Will Be Blood as his fifth favorite film of its era but said he was unimpressed by Dano’s performance.
“Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander,”
he said, referring to the dynamic between Dano’s character(s) and Daniel Day-Lewis’s lead role.
“[Dano] is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director.
In There Will Be Blood, Dano played twins Paul and Eli Sunday opposite Daniel Day-Lewis’s miner-turned-oilman during the historical California oil boom. Tarantino went so far as to suggest an alternative casting choice:
“Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director. Notably, Butler would have been only sixteen when the film was made, while Dano was twenty-three.
Tensions Around Actor Performances
The director delved deeper into his perceived shortcomings with Dano’s portrayal.
“[Dano is] just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy. … Daniel Day-Lewis shows that he doesn’t need [a powerful onscreen foe]. He doesn’t need anything,”
Tarantino complained.
“The movie would’ve had more — there would’ve been more stringiness to the beef. And again, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s not.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director.
Tarantino clarified that his harsh criticism does not mean Dano’s acting was “terrible,” but that he personally did not find it compelling. Expanding on his dislikes, Tarantino further remarked,
“I’m saying he’s giving a nonentity [performance]. I don’t care for him. I don’t care for Owen Wilson. I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director.
Industry Impact and Ongoing Fallout
Tarantino’s cutting remarks about Owen Wilson, Paul Dano, and Matthew Lillard are drawing significant attention within the film world. These views have prompted a wider discussion about the director’s preferences and the complex relationships between prominent artists. With Wilson and Dano both lauded for their work—Midnight in Paris and There Will Be Blood being highly acclaimed—the director’s comments add a layer of controversy and spark curiosity about potential future collaborations or further public exchanges. The debate underscores the tensions possible within the creative community, leaving audiences to ponder how personal bias and personality shape industry narratives.
