Tarantino Says One Actor Held There Will Be Blood Back From Being a Masterpiece
Quentin Tarantino has sparked controversy by claiming that Paul Dano's performance was the "big flaw" that kept There Will Be Blood from achieving masterpiece status, calling the actor "weak sauce" on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast.
Tarantino's comments on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast have ignited a fierce debate among film critics and fans.
Quentin Tarantino has stirred up debate again. On the Bret Easton Ellis podcast, he revealed that he ranked Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down as his No. 1 film of the 21st century, but his comments about There Will Be Blood are what everyone is talking about.
Tarantino said the film could have been his top pick if not for one “big flaw”, Paul Dano’s performance.
According to him:
“The flaw is Paul Dano. He’s weak sauce… a weak sister.”
Tarantino explained that Dano’s role should have matched the strength of Daniel Day-Lewis, but instead felt one sided:
“It’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s obvious it’s not.”
When Ellis pointed out Dano was only 23 and acting opposite a legend, Tarantino didn’t back down:
“So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG?”
He added that Dano’s performance wasn’t terrible just “a non-entity.”
Tarantino even said he doesn’t care for Dano in general, adding:
“I don’t care for him, Owen Wilson, or Matthew Lillard.”
He also said Austin Butler would have been a much stronger choice for the role.
Tarantino’s top films also included Shaun of the Dead, Zodiac, Lost in Translation, and Toy Story 3
