Sun Dec 07 02:30:00 UTC 2025: Tarantino’s Attack on Paul Dano Sparks Actor Defense
Los Angeles, CA – Quentin Tarantino’s recent criticism of Paul Dano’s performance in “There Will Be Blood” has ignited a wave of support for the actor. During a recent appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, Tarantino shared his top 20 films of the 21st century, including Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed movie. However, the director singled out Dano’s acting as his biggest issue with the movie. “He is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister,” Tarantino stated, even going so far as to call Dano the “weakest f***ing actor in SAG.”
Tarantino’s unprompted remarks quickly spread across social media, triggering a strong defense of Dano from fans and industry figures alike. Mattson Tomlin, co-writer of “The Batman: Part II,” praised Dano as “a terrific actor” and “an astonishing director who exudes control and tremendous empathy.”
Dillon Freasier, who played the young H.W. Plainview in “There Will Be Blood,” dismissed Tarantino’s suggestion that Austin Butler would have been a better fit for the role. “The film is perfect,” Freasier told TMZ. “It’s a work of art. And it’s that way because everyone was perfectly cast.”
Actor Simu Liu (“Barbie,” “Shang-Chi”) simply tweeted, “idk man i think Paul Dano is an incredible actor.”
Film journalist Jamie Graham echoed the sentiments of many, tweeting, “Alternative take [to Tarantino]: Paul Dano is f***ing brilliant in the film, and being weak and weaselly is the whole point.”
The outpouring of support underscores Dano’s respected status within the entertainment community and highlights the impact of Tarantino’s blunt critique. Dano, known for roles in films like “The Batman” where he played The Riddler, has yet to publicly respond to Tarantino’s comments.
First Piper 