Acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino has ignited a fierce debate within the film community after delivering a scathing critique of actor Paul Dano's performance in the modern classic There Will Be Blood.
Tarantino's Blunt Assessment
During an appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast in December 2025, the 62-year-old filmmaker behind Reservoir Dogs offered a brutal opinion. He stated that the 2007 Paul Thomas Anderson film would stand a strong chance of being his number one or two pick of the 21st century, "if it didn't have a big, giant flaw in it."
Tarantino did not mince words, directly attributing this perceived flaw to Dano. "The flaw is Paul Dano," he declared. He argued that while the film, which stars Daniel Day-Lewis as oil baron Daniel Plainview, is structured as a dramatic two-hander, Dano's portrayal of the zealous preacher Eli Sunday fails to match up.
"He is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister," Tarantino continued, suggesting he would have preferred a younger actor like Austin Butler, who was 16 at the time, to have taken the role. He concluded his criticism by labelling Dano "the weakest f***ing actor in SAG [the Screen Actors Guild]."
Fans and Defenders Clap Back
The director's comments were swiftly challenged on social media, with many film fans and critics rushing to defend Dano's widely praised performance. Dano, an American actor acclaimed for roles in Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and The Fabelmans (2022), played a dual role in There Will Be Blood, portraying both Eli and his twin brother Paul.
One supporter on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted the actor's achievement, writing, "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 pointed out that Dano was only 22 years old at the time, acting opposite Daniel Day-Lewis at the peak of his powers.
Further criticism of Tarantino's stance emerged, with one user stating, "Quentin Tarantino could not be more wrong about Paul Dano if he tried... his movie takes have been horrible lately. Like embarrassingly bad." The consensus among defenders is that Dano's performance is not only competent but exceptional, especially given his age and the stature of his co-star.
A Lasting Cinematic Legacy
Despite this new controversy, the legacy of There Will Be Blood remains untarnished. The film is consistently cited as one of the finest cinematic works of the 21st century. For UK audiences, the film is currently available to stream on Paramount+.
Tarantino's provocative comments have succeeded in refocusing attention on a 17-year-old film, demonstrating the enduring power of debate around artistic interpretation. While the director is entitled to his opinion, the strong public rebuttal underscores the high regard in which Dano's complex performance is held by a significant portion of the film-viewing public.
