Acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has ignited a firestorm of debate within the film community following his scathing assessment of actor Paul Dano's performance in the 2007 masterpiece There Will Be Blood.
Tarantino's 'Weak Sauce' Accusation
During a recent appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, the 62-year-old director of Reservoir Dogs offered a shockingly harsh critique. He suggested the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film, which focuses on oil baron Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his rivalry with preacher Eli Sunday (Dano), would rank as one of his top two films of the 21st century, "if it didn't have a big, giant flaw in it."
Tarantino did not mince words, directly identifying the flaw as Dano himself. "The flaw is Paul Dano," he stated, arguing that what was intended as a dramatic "two-hander" between two powerhouse actors failed because Dano was not up to the task. "He is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister," Tarantino declared, even suggesting he would have preferred a then-16-year-old Austin Butler in the role. He concluded his brutal assessment by calling Dano "the weakest f***ing actor in SAG [the Screen Actors Guild]."
Fans and Followers Rally to Dano's Defence
The comments, made public on Thursday 4 December 2025, were swiftly challenged on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Many users pointed to Dano's extensive and critically praised career, which includes standout roles in Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Meek's Cutoff (2010), and The Fabelmans (2022).
Fans were particularly ardent in defending his dual performance in There Will Be Blood, where he played both Eli Sunday and his twin brother, Paul. One supporter wrote, "He holds himself strong opposite a legend like DDL... he crafts rich character but also two different characters. It's one of the great performances." Another highlighted Dano's youth at the time, noting, "Paul was literally 22 YEARS OLD playing identical twins and he somehow manages to act on the same playing field as DANIEL DAY-LEWIS."
A Lasting Legacy Despite the Critique
Despite Tarantino's controversial opinion, There Will Be Blood remains firmly entrenched as one of the most highly regarded films of the modern era. The critique has done little to tarnish Dano's reputation as one of Hollywood's most respected character actors. The incident underscores the subjective nature of film criticism, where even a performance celebrated by many can be singled out for derision by a prominent voice.
For UK audiences wishing to judge the performance for themselves, There Will Be Blood is currently available to stream on Paramount+.
