Daniel Day-Lewis Defends Paul Dano After Quentin Tarantino’s Criticism Of ‘There Will Be Blood’

In a recent podcast with Bret Easton Ellis, critically acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino criticized American actor Paul Dano. When talking about There Will Be Blood, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Tarantino stated, “There Will Be Blood would stand good chance at being no. 1 or 2 if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw in it… and the flaw is Paul Dano.”* There Will Be Blood is widely considered Anderson’s masterpiece and best work. Daniel Day-Lewis played the lead in the film and went on to win an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Tarantino continuously singled out Dano’s role, calling him “a weak sauce.” Tarantino argued that Dano’s dual role, which expanded unexpectedly after the original actor for one twin dropped out, was the film’s only flaw.

After Tarantino’s comments, Day-Lewis publicly praised his There Will Be Blood co-star. In response to the criticism, an Instagram account claiming to be Day-Lewis took to Instagram to share multiple short clips of Dano’s performance, captioning the post: “Paul Dano is one of the best and most talented actors of his generation.” Day-Lewis, known for being a private person, did not directly address Tarantino nor his remarks in his post; however, with the caption, he offered clear support to Dano through his praise and choice of dramatic scenes from the film.

Day-Lewis and Dano’s collaboration in There Will Be Blood remains a significant milestone in both actors’ careers. Day-Lewis earned multiple awards for his performance, and for Dano, it brought him to the big leagues, proving he could play a dual role—he went from a small part to the film’s co-lead with little prep time. Dano has continued to build on his critically acclaimed career, including Little Miss Sunshine, 12 Years a Slave, The Fabelmans, and The Batman. The director of The Batman, Matt Reeves, also defended Dano following Tarantino’s comments, calling him an “incredible actor” and an “astonishing director.” Day-Lewis has come out of self-proclaimed retirement, which he has expressed regret over, to star in his son Ronan Day-Lewis’s film Anemone after a seven-year hiatus.

While Tarantino’s critique sparked a lively online debate, stars throughout the industry have voiced their support for Dano. Day-Lewis’s endorsement reinforces Dano’s reputation as a respected and skilled actor within the film community.