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Quentin Tarantino Once Dismissed Paul Dano’s Performance in ‘there Will Be Blood’ as ‘Weak Sauce’
A resurfaced story reveals a blunt critique from director Quentin Tarantino regarding Paul Dano’s work in Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed 2007 film, There Will be Blood. Tarantino reportedly described Dano’s performance as “weak sauce,” a surprising assessment given Dano’s subsequent career trajectory and the film’s enduring legacy. The revelation underscores Tarantino’s reputation for candid, and sometiems controversial, opinions on fellow actors and filmmaking.
Despite Tarantino’s initial dismissal, Dano has forged a remarkably successful career, collaborating with a constellation of prominent directors including Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans), Steve McQueen (12 years a Slave, which won the Oscar for Best Picture), Bong Joon-ho (Okja), Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners), Spike Jonze (Where the Wild Things Are), Kelly Reichardt (Meek’s Cutoff), Rian Johnson (Looper), and Ang Lee (Taking Woodstock). He has also shared the screen with major stars such as Tom Cruise (Knight and Day),Harrison Ford (cowboys and Aliens),Robert De Niro (being Flynn),Adam Sandler (Spaceman),Steve Carell (Little Miss Sunshine),Robert Pattinson (The Batman),Michael Caine (Youth),and Daniel Radcliffe (Swiss Army Man).
Dano’s involvement in There Will Be Blood itself was somewhat unconventional. Initially cast as Paul Sunday, a character who appears briefly at the film’s outset, he was later tapped to play Paul’s brother, the preacher Eli Sunday, after Kel O’Neill departed the role two weeks into production.
His performance as Eli Sunday ultimately earned him a BAFTA nomination for best Supporting Actor, though he lost to Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men). There Will Be Blood was also nominated for Best Picture at the 2008 Oscars, but lost to No Country for Old Men.
