Quentin Tarantino Reviewed Paul Dano 16 Years Ago And His Comments Were Very Different

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The release of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair should be a happy moment for Quentin Tarantino. However, it’s been overshadowed by harsh comments he made about actor Paul Dano, which have been widely criticized – even Matt Reeves, who directed Dano in The Batman, has spoken out against them.

In an interview on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, Quentin Tarantino surprisingly criticized Paul Dano’s performance in the 2007 film There Will Be Blood. He called Dano a “major flaw” and dismissed him as “weak,” even going so far as to label him “the weakest actor in SAG [Screen Actors Guild].” These comments are particularly notable given how Tarantino’s opinions have evolved over time.

What Quentin Tarantino Said About Paul Dano’s There Will Be Blood Performance 16 Years Ago

In 2009, Quentin Tarantino hosted “Tarantino Takes Over Sky Movies” where he talked about films he loved. Similar to his recent podcast appearances, the conversation turned to There Will Be Blood, praising its quality, especially a memorable scene with fire, and, predictably, the actor Paul Dano. However, Tarantino was more restrained with his critiques back then, stating,

My main issue with the film is Paul Dano’s performance. It’s not bad, but it feels like a bit of a compromise. He’s a good actor, but doesn’t quite reach the same level as Daniel Day-Lewis – Day-Lewis is a legendary figure like Muhammad Ali, while Dano is more like a solid, but less iconic, fighter like Jerry Quarry.

Quentin Tarantino’s opinions have shifted dramatically. He used to suggest Daniel Day-Lewis was so good that it overshadowed Paul Dano’s performance, but now he’s much more critical of Dano himself. While his earlier comments had some complexity, they weren’t overly harsh. However, his recent review goes even further, seemingly questioning Dano’s overall acting talent, not just his work in There Will Be Blood.

The Context Behind Paul Dano’s Performance In There Will Be Blood

Miramax

Paul Dano initially joined the cast of There Will Be Blood as Paul Sunday, a minor character. Daniel Day-Lewis and Kel O’Neill were set to play the lead roles. However, when O’Neill left the project a few weeks into filming, the filmmakers decided to rewrite the story to make Paul and Eli Sunday twins, giving Dano the opportunity to play both brothers and become a main star. This unexpected change meant Dano had very little time to prepare for his expanded role.

Paul Dano received a lot of positive attention after There Will Be Blood came out, and the film helped launch his career, even earning him a BAFTA nomination. As Quentin Tarantino pointed out in 2009, Daniel Day-Lewis was the more prominent performer. Considering Dano was relatively new to acting and was unexpectedly given a larger role, it’s remarkable that he performed so well alongside such a talented actor.

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2025-12-05 17:02