Quentin Tarantino Criticizes Paul Dano‘s Performance in ‘there Will Be Blood’
Table of Contents
Quentin Tarantino has expressed his dissatisfaction with Paul Dano’s performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood.
Tarantino’s Critique on ‘The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast’
During a recent appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, the acclaimed director discussed his list of the best movies of the 21st century. He ranked the 2007 western-thriller at number five, but noted a significant flaw preventing it from reaching the top spot.
“And the flaw is Paul Dano,” Tarantino stated on the podcast, as reported by People. “Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander. … He is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister.”
Day-Lewis’ Performance and the Imbalance
Tarantino praised Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance,which earned him an Academy Award. He argued that Day-Lewis was so compelling he didn’t *need* a strong counterpart. “Daniel Day-Lewis shows that he doesn’t need [a strong foil in the movie]. He doesn’t need anything. 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,” he explained.
When Bret Easton Ellis suggested that Day-Lewis’s performance simply overshadowed Dano, Tarantino responded with pointed criticism: “So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG? the limpest dick in the world?”
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to representatives for Dano for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Further Remarks and Comparisons
“I’m not saying he’s giving a terrible performance,” Tarantino clarified.”I’m saying he’s giving a non-entity [performance]. I don’t care for him. I don’t care for Owen wilson, I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.”
Awards Recognition for ‘There Will Be Blood’
there Will Be Blood received two Academy Awards: Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis and Best Cinematography. The film was nominated for a total of eight awards, and its potential for success was predicted by The Hollywood Reporter in a 2007 review.
“Built around another powerhouse performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, it’s a certain awards contender and will be a strong draw for serious moviegoers,” John DeFore wrote, adding, “Daniel Day-Lewis stuns in paul Thomas Anderson’s saga of a soul-dead oil man.”
Published: 2025/12/04 06:30:08
Related reading