In a blistering critique that has ignited fierce debate among film fans, director Quentin Tarantino has singled out actor Paul Dano as the fundamental weakness in Paul Thomas Anderson's acclaimed masterpiece, There Will Be Blood.
Tarantino's Scathing Podcast Comments
Appearing on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast to list his top 20 films of the 21st century, Tarantino placed There Will Be Blood at number five. However, he immediately qualified his choice by declaring the film harboured a "big, giant flaw" – the performance of Paul Dano, who played the twin roles of Paul and Eli Sunday.
"Obviously, it's supposed to be a two-hander, but it's also drastically obvious that it's not a two-hander," Tarantino stated, comparing Dano's work to Daniel Day-Lewis's iconic turn as oilman Daniel Plainview. "[Dano] is weak sauce, man. He's a weak sister." The filmmaker went further, suggesting a then-16-year-old Austin Butler would have been preferable in the role, and summarised Dano as "just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy."
Mounting a Defence for Dano's Performance
Tarantino's comments have been met with widespread bemusement and defence of Dano's work. In the film, Dano portrays the sanctimonious young preacher Eli Sunday, whose own greed is eclipsed by Plainview's monstrous ambition. Many critics and audiences consider his performance to be both astounding and pitiful, a crucial counterpoint to Day-Lewis's force of nature.
The context of Dano's casting is also significant. He was originally hired only to play the minor role of brother Paul Sunday. Two weeks into filming, director Paul Thomas Anderson fired actor Kel O'Neill, who was initially cast as Eli, deeming him "not the right fit". The then-23-year-old Dano was abruptly promoted to play both twins, a daunting task for any young actor facing off against Day-Lewis.
Podcast host Bret Easton Ellis offered a defence, noting, "Daniel Day-Lewis also makes it impossible to make it a two-hander because there are aspects of that performance that are so gargantuan." Tarantino dismissed this, quipping, "So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG?" – a remark some found ironic given Tarantino's own acting credentials.
A Career of Acclaim Versus One Director's Opinion
Beyond There Will Be Blood, Paul Dano has built a reputation as one of the most versatile and compelling actors of his generation. His filmography includes celebrated roles in Little Miss Sunshine, Prisoners, Love & Mercy, and The Fabelmans. He is frequently cited as one of the finest actors never to receive an Oscar nomination.
When pressed by Ellis if he had ever enjoyed Dano in any project, Tarantino was unequivocal: "I don't care for him. I don't care for Owen Wilson, and I don't care for Matthew Lillard." He later clarified that he didn't view Dano's performance as terrible, but rather as a "non-entity performance."
Ultimately, Tarantino's hot take underscores the subjective nature of film criticism. While he views Dano as the flaw that prevents the film from being his number one, countless others see the actor's nuanced work as an integral part of what makes There Will Be Blood a modern classic. The debate, as they say, is sure to run as deep as one of Daniel Plainview's oil wells.
