Quentin Tarantino is known for his strong opinions on film, but he recently misjudged a truly great movie: Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood, released 18 years ago. Inspired by Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil!, the film tells the story of Daniel Plainview, an ambitious oilman played by Daniel Day-Lewis, who travels from town to town, exploiting oil reserves and leaving a trail of destruction. Paul Dano co-stars as the brothers Paul and Eli Sunday. Tarantino recently criticized one of these actors in an interview.
It’s not surprising that Quentin Tarantino has high praise for Daniel Day-Lewis, consistently calling him a fantastic actor. However, Tarantino did have some significant issues with Paul Dano’s performance.
Quentin Tarantino Is Wrong About Paul Dano in There Will Be Blood
Quentin Tarantino recently discussed his 20 favorite films from the 21st century on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast. He ranked There Will Be Blood as number five, praising director Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance. However, Tarantino was highly critical of Paul Dano, calling him a weak and uninteresting actor, and even labeled him the “weakest actor in SAG.”
The situation at least allowed people to recognize Paul Dano’s talent, with many fans and industry professionals praising his work online. Quentin Tarantino described Dano’s performance not as bad, but as lacking impact. Ultimately, this is just Tarantino’s opinion, and he’s entitled to it. However, Dano’s performance actually fit the needs of the characters perfectly.
It wasn’t about Paul Dano matching Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance; his character was intentionally portrayed as weaker. The scene where Dano’s preacher confronts Daniel Plainview was meant to show a smaller figure trying to assert himself over someone far more powerful. Dano skillfully captured the desperation of a man striving to appear larger than life, even though he wasn’t.
It’s inaccurate to dismiss Paul Dano as an insignificant actor. His portrayal of The Riddler in The Batman was brilliant – he played a seemingly small character who inspired others to rebel, precisely fitting the role’s intention. Films like Swiss Army Man, Prisoners, and The Fabelmans demonstrate that Dano is a skilled character actor who consistently excels at playing specific, impactful roles, and in those roles, he’s flawless.
There Will Be Blood Is an Underrated Horror Movie Masterpiece
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, There Will Be Blood, is a stunning achievement. Its success lies in its unique blend of genres – it’s both a classic Western and a surprisingly effective horror film, a combination many viewers may not have noticed upon its release. Though set in a fading Old West town, the film shares thematic similarities with Dracula, functioning almost as a reimagining of the classic horror story.
The film There Will Be Blood tells the story of a ruthless oilman, Daniel Plainview, who exploits a town and its resources. He’s portrayed as a vampiric figure, draining the life out of the community, and has associates who prepare the way for his takeover. The local preacher, Eli Sunday, acts as a kind of antagonist, similar to Van Helsing battling Dracula, but ultimately lacks the power to stop Plainview, and suffers the consequences when Plainview seeks revenge. The film strongly suggests a connection between oil and blood, using oil as a symbol of life force and exploitation.
I was so thrilled to see that There Will Be Blood landed in the top 10 of the New York Times poll of the best films of the 21st century, as chosen by people in the industry! What’s really cool is that, along with No Country For Old Men, it was one of the only Westerns to make it into the top rankings. But for me, it’s more than just a Western – it’s a genuinely terrifying horror film, and it completely works because of the incredible performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano. They were both absolutely masterful in their roles.
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2025-12-27 02:10