Recently, Quentin Tarantino made some harsh remarks about certain actors, and one of them has now addressed how challenging it is to be criticized by the esteemed director.
Matthew Lillard, known for his portrayal of Shaggy in the 2002 live-action adaptation of Scooby Doo and more recently starring in Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023), discussed Tarantino’s comments during his appearance at GalaxyCon in Ohio.
He expressed to the audience that it is painful to hear the acclaimed director publicly dismiss his acting talent. Tarantino had also criticized Paul Dano, star of There Will Be Blood, labeling him as “the weakest f***ing actor in SAG.”
Lillard, who has frequently been cast in roles associated with stoner characters, shrugged off the criticism. “Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn’t like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a s***,” he told the convention attendees.
Despite initially dismissing Tarantino’s views, Lillard went on to discuss the emotional impact of being criticized by a leading figure in the film industry.
“Listen, the point is that it hurts your feelings. It f***in’ sucks,” Deadline records Lillard stating. “And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood.”
The criticisms about Lillard came to light during Tarantino’s appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast when he criticized The Batman actor Paul Dano, referring to him as “weak sauce.”
Tarantino suggested that Dano’s performance was the reason There Will Be Blood did not top his list of favorite films.
He stated: “He is the weak sister. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. He’s just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy.”
While critiquing other actors, Tarantino also mentioned: “I don’t care for [Dano], I don’t care for Owen Wilson, and I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.”
Despite his comedic roles in several cult classics, like his appearance in Hackers (1995) alongside Angelina Jolie, Lillard acknowledged that the comments from Tarantino highlight how some in the industry perceive him.
He shared: “I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood. Two totally different microcosms, right?”
Talking further about the sting of such criticism from a well-regarded director, Lillard confided in the audience: “And so, you know, it’s humbling, and it hurts.”
Nonetheless, Lillard continues to thrive in his career, with upcoming appearances such as Scream 7, which is scheduled for release in February next year.