For context, the comments came when Quentin appeared on Bret Easton Ellis’s podcast this week to select his top 20 movies of the 21st century. He placed Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood at Number 5. The film — all about a ruthless oil prospector in early 20th-century California — stars Paul Dano and Daniel Day-Lewis. Paul was only 22 years old when the film was shot, and he portrays two characters, brothers Eli Sunday and Paul Sunday.
“There Will Be Blood would stand a good chance at being Number 1 or 2 if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw in it…and the flaw is Paul Dano,” Quentin said of the Oscar-winning film. “Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander. [Paul] is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister.”
Suggesting that Austin Butler (who would’ve been about 16 when the movie came out) would’ve been a better choice, Quentin called Paul “such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy” and branded him “the weakest fucking actor in SAG.”
Now is probably a good time to mention that Paul’s performance in the movie was critically acclaimed, which is especially impressive when you learn that he was cast to play both roles with reportedly only a few days’ notice.
It hasn’t taken long for Quentin’s horrible comments to go viral, and unsurprisingly, people online are shocked and outraged.
However, on a more positive note, the whole thing has prompted tons of movie lovers to show their support for Paul and praise his work.
OK, time to go rewatch Prisoners, The Batman, AND There Will Be Blood. Paul Dano, the public loves you.