Hold onto your seats, because Quentin Tarantino is stirring the pot once again—this time, he’s taking aim at Paul Dano, labeling him the ‘worst actor in SAG.’ But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Tarantino’s harsh critique fair, or is he missing the mark entirely? Let’s dive in.
The legendary filmmaker recently shared his Top 20 movies of the 21st Century, and surprisingly, Paul Dano’s 2007 film There Will Be Blood made the cut. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, the movie is undoubtedly a masterpiece. Yet, Tarantino couldn’t resist slamming Dano’s dual performance as the identical twins Eli and Paul Sunday. And this is the part most people miss: While Tarantino adored the film overall, he believes Dano’s acting was its ‘giant flaw.’
During The Brett Easton Ellis Podcast, Tarantino didn’t hold back. He praised Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance but argued that There Will Be Blood could have ranked higher than No. 5 on his list if not for Dano. ‘It’s supposed to be a two-hander,’ Tarantino said, ‘but it’s drastically obvious that it’s not. [Dano] is weak sauce, man. He’s the weak sister. Austin Butler would’ve been wonderful in that role. He’s just such a weak, uninteresting guy. The weakest f-cking actor in SAG,’ he added with a laugh.
This isn’t the first time Tarantino has criticized Dano. In a previous interview, he admitted there was ‘nothing bad’ about Dano’s portrayal but called it a ‘compromise.’ He even compared Dano to Day-Lewis, stating, ‘If Daniel Day-Lewis is Muhammed Ali, Paul Dano is Jerry Quarry. It is what it is.’ Bold statement, right? But is it entirely fair? After all, Dano stepped into the dual role at the last minute after the original actor for Eli Sunday dropped out. He had just three and a half to four days to prepare—talk about pressure! ‘I just went for it, threw myself in there and gave it everything I had,’ Dano explained. ‘It was guts and instinct, not a lot of preparation.’
Here’s the kicker: Dano wasn’t even supposed to play both roles. His last-minute casting was a Hail Mary, and he admits he was ‘in good hands’ with Anderson and Day-Lewis. So, was his performance truly a ‘flaw,’ or did he rise to the challenge under impossible circumstances? What do you think? Is Tarantino’s critique justified, or is he being too harsh? Let’s spark a debate in the comments—we want to hear your take!
Oh, and before you go, did you know one of Tarantino’s iconic films is returning to theaters this weekend? It’s a special event you won’t want to miss!
