Kitty Chrisp
Published December 3, 2025 10:04am
Updated December 3, 2025 10:04am
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Quentin Tarantino has made his feelings clear about one US actor (Picture: Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images)
Quentin Tarantino has well and truly laid into War & Peace actor Paul Dano, calling him weak, uninteresting, and a ‘giant flaw’ in one of the director’s favourite films of the 21st century. Ouch.
The Pulp Fiction director, 62, was tasked with listing his five favourite films of the last 25 years, and while he’d love to give 2007 epic period drama There Will Be Blood the top spot, he simply can’t. The reason? Little Miss Sunshine actor Paul.
While explaining his list, ranking Paul Anderson’s film as fifth, Quentin said: ‘There Will Be Blood would stand a better chance to be in number 1 or number 2 if it didn’t have a big giant flaw in it, and the flaw is Paul Dano.
According to Entertainment Now, while speaking on the most recent episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast the Django Unchained director reflected that Paul, 41, couldn’t match co-star Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance.
‘Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander,’ he continued, before spouting more of his bizarre rant: ‘He is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister.’
Quentin also noted he thinks ‘another terrific actor’ could have lifted the role, explaining: ‘Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. [Dano] is just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy.’
Quentin randomly decided to lay into poor Paul Dano (Picture: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Paul starred alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood when he was in his early 20s (Picture: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Movie buffs have taken to Reddit to criticise the famed director for his ‘classless’ rant about the actor, who is known for roles in movies including Prisoners, 12 Years a Slave, and The Fabelmans.
‘This was an incredibly classless thing for Tarantino to say,’ said superdouradas, explaining that actor Paul made them ‘hate’ his character in the noughties film.
‘When an actor manages that, it usually means they’re doing a damn good job,’ they continued, concluding: ‘Today I lost a lot of respect for Tarantino.’
Others weighed in, with WelbyReddit calling Quentin’s take ‘weird’ as many also pointed out that the director often ‘sticks out’ like a sore thumb when in front of the camera himself.
‘This is an insane take,’ said MagiciansAlliance, while Superb-Mall3805 said: ‘There must be some weird behind-the-scenes grudge, here. As a side note Tarantino legitimately is the weakest actor I’ve ever seen, so maybe he’s trying to pass that title to someone else.’
Paul stepped in and had just a few days to prepare for the role (Picture: Matt Carr/Getty Images)
The famous director called him ‘weak’ and ‘uninteresting’… Ouch. (Picture: LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Many pointed out that Paul, who played the dual role of twin brothers Eli (a large role) and Paul Sunday (who appeared in one scene) in the epic, was only drafted in for the part last minute.
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Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson’s first choice for Eli was Kel O’Neill, but halfway through the two-month shoot the director reportedly decided it wasn’t working out.
Paul then took up the major role of Eli in addition to his one scene, with only a few days to prepare, tasked with acting alongside notorious method actor Day-Lewis, who won an Oscar for his performance.
Speaking to IndieWire about the role in 2013, Paul reflected: ‘On There Will Be Blood I was cast at the last minute. I had 3 1/2 to 4 days to get ready for the first day.
‘I just went for it, threw myself in there and gave it everything I had. That was just guts and instinct, not a lot of preparation. I was in good hands with Paul and Daniel, I felt I had to cut loose and go for it.’
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