![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5c0648ebdc91633bdd706e8ed43c14a0d6-ben-stiller-paul-dano.rsquare.w330.jpg\")
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\n Photo: Nina Westervelt\/Variety\/Getty Images\n <\/p>\n
When Quentin Tarantino<\/a> insulted Paul Dano\u2019s acting abilities in There Will Be Blood, he inadvertently assembled the Avengers of Hollywood stars who have Dano\u2019s back. On The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast<\/a>, Tarantino<\/a> said Dano\u2019s acting was \u201ca giant flaw\u201d in the Oscar-nominated movie and that he was the \u201cweakest\u201d actor in SAG. Not every director agrees. On December 4, DGA Award-winning director Ben Stiller<\/a> put it simply, writing<\/a> on X, \u201cPaul Dano is f-ing brilliant.\u201d Stiller knows this firsthand, too, as he directed Dano in the 2018 mini-series\u00a0Escape from Dannemora<\/a>. A few hours later, another director Dano has worked with, The Batman\u2019s Matt Reeves<\/a>, adds another compliment, commending Dano both on and off screen, writing<\/a>, \u201cPaul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person.\u201d Actress Maya Rudolph<\/a>, Paul Thomas Anderson<\/a>\u2019s partner, posted<\/a> a photo of Dano in TWBB on her Instagram Stories to show support. Marvel star Simu Liu also called<\/a> Dano an \u201cincredible\u201d actor.<\/p>\n Paul Dano is f-ing brilliant<\/p>\n \u2014 Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) December 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Two stars decided that their defense of Dano would be better in video form. Comedian Zach Woods<\/a> made<\/a> an Instagram Reel sticking up for him. \u201cUs very weird-looking white boys have to stand up for each other,\u201d Woods joked. \u201cSo shut up, Quentin Tarantino! You little b*tch.\u201d Alec Baldwin had a similar message. \u201cI just wanna say I love Paul Dano,\u201d Baldwin shouted<\/a> from his car on Instagram Reels. \u201cIf you don\u2019t love Paul Dano, shhhh.\u201d<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \n