Peter Dinklage is a serious guy, dedicated to his craft, loyal to his collaborators, thoughtful and measured and determined. That’s what 95 percent of this New York Times Magazine profile of him is all about. But 5 percent of that profile is Dinklage defending and explaining the movie Tiptoes. That’s the logic-defying rom-com with Kate Beckinsale and Matthew McConaughey, where Gary Oldman plays McConaughey’s dwarf brother. Dinklage says that the movie was ruined by its studio, and that the original director’s cut was fine. “It was sort of an amazing idea for a movie, but the result [of the new cut] was what we were fighting against — the cutesiness of little people,” Dinklage says. Even before the new edits, though, “there was some flak,” Dinklage admits. “‘Why would you put Gary Oldman on his knees? That’s almost like blackface.’ And I have my own opinions about political correctness, but I was just like: ‘It’s Gary Oldman. He can do whatever he wants.’” The risible Tiptoes trailer is here, if you’ve never had the bizarre pleasure/horror.
