Quentin Tarantino Calls Paul Dano “Weak Sauce” in Resurfaced Interview
Quentin Tarantino has ignited controversy with recently resurfaced comments criticizing actor Paul Dano’s performance in Paul Thomas anderson’s critically acclaimed film, There Will Be Blood. The director didn’t mince words,labeling Dano “weak sauce” and “the weakest fucking actor in SAG” during a 2015 appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast.
Tarantino, a noted cinephile, explained his assessment stemmed from the imbalance he perceived between Dano and Daniel day-Lewis’s performances. While acknowledging There Will Be Blood‘s potential to rank among his top two films of all time, he argued Dano’s portrayal of the dual roles of Paul and Eli sunday considerably detracted from the film’s overall impact. “Obviously, its supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander,” Tarantino stated.
The director went further, suggesting Austin Butler – who was 15 years old at the time of the film’s release – would have been a superior choice for the role. Tarantino contrasted Butler’s potential with what he saw as Dano’s lack of presence,reiterating his belief that Dano was an “uninteresting guy.” The comments have quickly circulated online, prompting reactions from film fans and industry observers alike.
The resurfacing of these remarks highlights Tarantino’s reputation for candid,and frequently enough blunt,opinions on acting and filmmaking. While his critical assessments have frequently sparked debate, they also underscore his deep engagement with the art form and his exacting standards for performance.