Quentin Tarantino has stirred controversy with his outspoken remarks critiquing Paul Dano’s acting in the film “There Will Be Blood,” reigniting a debate about performance standards in Hollywood. The acclaimed director, known for his sharp opinions, revealed his issues with Dano while listing his favorite films of the 21st century, making the Quentin Tarantino criticism Paul Dano moment a new flashpoint in film discussions.
Tarantino Calls Out Dano’s Role in “There Will Be Blood”
At 62, Quentin Tarantino continues to make headlines, this time due to his candid evaluation of Paul Dano’s performance as twin brothers in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 film “There Will Be Blood.” Despite placing the movie high on his Top 20 movies of the century, Tarantino found fault with Dano’s portrayal of Eli and Paul Sunday, roles he believes undermined the film’s potential.
Discussing the film on The Brett Easton Ellis Podcast, Tarantino had high praise for Daniel Day-Lewis, the film’s star, and even suggested that “There Will Be Blood” could have ranked higher on his list were it not for Dano’s participation.
“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 … and the flaw is Paul Dano. Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander,”
Quentin Tarantino, Filmmaker.
His remarks did not stop there, as he continued:
“[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-cking actor in SAG [laughs].”
Quentin Tarantino, Filmmaker.
Previous Disagreements and Context Behind the Casting
This is not the first instance of Tarantino expressing dissatisfaction with Dano’s performance in “There Will Be Blood.” In earlier comments, he admitted there was nothing overtly wrong with Dano’s portrayal, but felt a lack of depth in the execution.
“He’s just not in the level and the caliber and the caliber of Daniel Day-Lewis and if the two characters are meant to be combats throughout the film, then Daniel Day-Lewis is Muhammed Ali and Paul Dano is Jerry Corey. It is what it is,”
Quentin Tarantino, via Screen Rant.
The critique comes with some context regarding production challenges. Originally, Dano was only supposed to play Paul Sunday. When the actor cast as Eli Sunday departed before filming, the decision was made for Dano to step into both roles on extremely short notice.
Paul Dano Responds to the Criticism
Paul Dano has addressed the situation, explaining he had minimal time to prepare for the complex dual roles after being unexpectedly cast for both brothers.
“I was cast at the last minute. I had three and a half to four days to get ready for the first day. I just went for it, threw myself in there and gave it everything I had. That was just guts and instinct, not a lot of preparation. I was in good hands with Paul [Thomas Anderson] and Daniel [Day Lewis], I felt I had to cut loose and go for it.”
Paul Dano, Actor.
Looking Forward: Hollywood’s Perfectionism and Public Debate
Tarantino’s comments have reignited Hollywood’s ongoing conversation about expectations for leading actors, and how last-minute production changes can affect performances. With figures like Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson at the center, the discussion stretches beyond individual critique to broader questions of casting, preparation, and the sometimes unforgiving lens of public opinion.
As “There Will Be Blood” remains a significant work in 21st-century cinema, and with Tarantino’s own films continuing to attract attention—one of his hit movies returns to theaters for a special event this weekend—the impact of these candid critiques on industry dialogue and future casting choices will be closely watched.
