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quentin tarantino Reveals his unlikely feud with actor Paul Dano In an interview in December 2025.
The filmmaker raised eyebrows during his appearance “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” Also discussing his 20 best films of the 21st century. During their chat, Dano’s performance in the 2007 film There will be blood was mentioned.
Tarantino named There will be blood It’s his fifth favorite movie since 2000 – but there’s a caveat. The acclaimed director explained that he would have thought more highly of the film without Dano playing brothers Paul and Eli Sandy. The filmmakers credited two of Dano’s performances with Daniel Day LewisOscar-winning oil tycoon Daniel Plainview.
“Obviously, this is supposed to be a two-person movie, but it’s also very obvious that it’s not a two-person movie,” Tarantino argued. “(Dano) is weak, man. He’s a weak sister.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about Tarantino’s criticism of Dano and what “weak sauce” actually means.
What does Quentin Tarantino think of Paul Dano?
Quentin Tarantino joins host of ‘The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast’ for in-depth discussion Bret Easton Ellis –author american psycho ——About the director Paul Thomas Anderson2007 movies There will be blood.
The Old West drama centers on a showdown between oil watcher Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) and local preacher Eli Sandy (Darno) over drilling in the small town of Boston, after Plainview learns about the oil deposits from Eli’s twin brother Paul (also played by Dano).
Tarantino named There will be blood It’s his fifth favorite film since 2000, but he believes a “huge flaw” prevents it from ranking higher – Dano playing both Eli and Paul Sandy. His biggest complaint is that Dano’s “weak” portrayal of Eli Sandy doesn’t stand up to Day-Lewis’s masterful portrayal of Daniel Plainview. (Day-Lewis, with ” There will be blood 2008. )
The film’s producers complained that Pano’s overall performance in the film was “boring.” There will be bloodin the suggestion “Austin Butler It would be wonderful to play that role. ” (Butler was only 16 years old at the time) There will be blood‘s release, then a cast member of nickelodeon Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide. Dano was 23 years old when filming the 2007 film. )
“(Dano) is just such a weak, weak, boring guy… Daniel Day-Lewis shows that he doesn’t need (a powerful on-screen enemy). He doesn’t need anything,” Tarantino argued. “The movie would have been more – the beef would have been more stringy. Again, it was supposed to be two hands, but it wasn’t.”
Ellis countered that it would be difficult for any actor to go head-to-head with Day-Lewis in “Day-Lewis.” There will be blood, Given the Oscar-winner’s powerful performance.
“So you put him up there with the weakest actor in SAG? The weakest bastard in the world?” Tarantino shot back.
Although Ellis disputed Dano’s defense, once upon a time in hollywood The director stood his ground.
“I’m not saying his performance was bad,” Tarantino clarified. “I mean his show means nothing. I don’t care about him. I don’t care Owen Wilson. i don’t care Matthew Lillard“.
US Weekly Representatives for Dano have been contacted for comment.
Dano received critical acclaim for his two performances in the film There will be blood He was nominated for a 2008 BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor when the film was released in 2007, and won the prestigious Village Voice Film Poll Award the same year.
What is “weak sauce”?
according to Oxford English Dictionarythe word “weak sauce” means someone or something that lacks “strength, substance, or credibility.” It can also refer to “something or someone who is worthless, stupid, or pathetic.”
Merriam-Webster Dictionary A similar assessment of the term was made, describing a “weak sauce” as someone or something that is “inferior, ineffective, or inconspicuous.”
An even stranger definition comes from urban dictionarysuggesting that “calling someone a ‘weak sauce’ compares them to Taco Bell’s ‘mild’ sauce.”
“(Weak sauce) Weak, trivial (or) trying to be like other hot sauces but not living up to expectations,” Urban Dictionary adds.
How are fans reacting to Quentin Tarantino playing Paul Dano?
Many listeners of “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” were confused by Tarantino’s pointed criticism of Dano’s performance in “Brett Easton Ellis.” There will be blood.
“What Tarantino said about Paul Dano is wrong on so many levels,” X users fight back. “Compared to a legend like DDL, he comes out stronger, dare I say better? leo (dicaprio) exist gangs of new york Even) he created rich characters, but also created two different characters. This is one of the most wonderful performances. Indeed. “
“It’s great to see the outpouring of support for Paul Dano after Tarantino’s idiotic film,” said another. X user argued. “Very disrespectful and completely wrong!”
Another Danault defender even suggestion think batman The actor “has a better filmography than Tarantino.”
“Tarantino is one of my favorite directors ❤️ but it’s unbearable when he expresses these offensive and exaggerated views,” said Tarantino fan admit. “Paul Dano, by the way, is fantastic in this role.”
However, not everyone agrees with Tarantino’s criticism There will be blood.
“I agree with Tarantino, Paul Dano TWBB Never sat with me,” one X user explained. “Daniel Day-Lewis, in particular, is supposed to be the counter-force to his character, but instead he’s weak and childish.”
Others were sad that Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard were listed by Tarantino as his least favorite actors – seemingly for no reason.
“I didn’t realize Tarantino also said he thought Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard were trash actors, damn,” one fan joke.
Another X user point out“People forget that not only did he say bad things about Paul Dano, but he also said bad things about Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard for no reason. Tarantino is just a baseless asshole.”
