Quentin Tarantino has declared war on Paul Dano.
The award-winning director, 62, appeared on Tuesday’s episode of “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” and named his top ten movies of the 21st century, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” — starring Dano, 41, and Daniel Day-Lewis — ranking fifth.
But Tarantino stressed that the 2007 period drama would be higher on his list if it wasn’t for Dano.
“‘There Will Be Blood’ would stand a better chance to be in number 1 or number 2 if it didn’t have a big giant flaw in it, and the flaw is Paul Dano,” the filmmaker stated.
Tarantino also argued that Dano’s performance is nowhere near as good as Day-Lewis’, who won an Oscar for the role.
“Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander,” Tarantino said.
“He is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister,” he added of Dano, claiming that “another terrific actor” could have triumphed instead.
“Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role,” Tarantino continued. “[Dano] just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy.”
Butler, 34, was only 16 years old when “There Will Be Blood” came out. Dano was 23 when he shot the film.
Ellis, 61, tired to defend Dano’s performance, telling Tarantino, “Daniel Day-Lewis also makes it impossible to make it a two-hander because there are aspects of that performance that are so gargantuan.”
“So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG?” Tarantino replied.
The “Kill Bill” director added, “I’m not saying he’s giving a terrible performance. I’m saying he’s giving a non-entity performance.”
When asked if he likes any of Dano’s projects, Tarantino responded, “I don’t care for him. I don’t care for him, I don’t care for Owen Wilson, and I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.”
The Post has reached out to Dano’s rep for comment.
Tarantino’s comments sparked backlash with Dano’s fans on social media.
“Quentin Tarantino could not be more wrong about Paul Dano if he tried,” one Twitter account wrote.
“Tarantino’s statement on Paul Dano is wrong on so many levels,” someone else tweeted. “He holds himself strong opposite a legend like DDL, he crafts rich character but also two different characters. It’s one of the great performances. It really is.”
“Quentin calling Dano ‘weak sauce’ for There Will Be Blood is wild — the man literally carried scenes with Daniel Day-Lewis’ intensity,” another person argued.
A fourth fan wrote, “Paul Dano is a more talented actor than 99% in SAG rn. Eli Sunday and the Riddler r two of the most charismatic and captivating villains of the century. Sometimes I wonder how the hell Tarantino’s movies r so good.”
“Paul Dano has a better filmography than Tarantino,” a different fan tweeted.
Dano starred in “There Will Be Blood” as two characters, twin brothers Paul and Eli Sunday. Dano was originally cast as only Paul, but after the Eli actor was let go, Anderson, 55, decided to have Dano take on both roles.
The film follows a miner-turned-oilman (Day-Lewis) who builds a fortune during the Southern California oil boom at the turn of the 20th century. It was nominated for eight Oscars and won two, including Best Actor for Day-Lewis, 68.
Since “There Will Be Blood,” Dano has been celebrated for his performances in “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners,” “Love & Mercy,” and “The Batman,” as well as the Showtime series “Escape at Dannemora.”
He’s been nominated for a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, two Emmy Awards, and multiple Critics’ Choice Awards.
By Eric Todisco
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