Paul Dano's Underrated Genius in There Will Be Blood | Acting Breakdown

Video Description

Paul Dano had just two days to prepare for his role as Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood. This video breaks down the acting methods Dano used to pulled it off and why Tarantino's take on it may be too harsh. We'll look at Paul Dano’s acting process, the last-minute casting shake-up, and the reality behind how Dano was able to go toe-to-toe with arguably the greatest living actor today. Using interviews, behind-the-scenes accounts, and firsthand quotes from Dano, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Paul Thomas Anderson, this is a comprehensive breakdown of Dano’s performance in There Will Be Blood. We’ll explore: Why Paul Thomas Anderson cast Paul Dano twice in the same film What really happened when the original actor playing Eli Sunday was replaced How Dano approached evangelical preachers and spiritual “performance” His working relationship with Daniel Day-Lewis Why Eli Sunday isn’t weak, but performative by design And whether Quentin Tarantino’s criticism actually holds up This isn’t a hit piece or a defense video. It’s an honest, fact-based look at how Paul Dano created Eli Sunday under extreme pressure, and why that performance may be misunderstood. 0:00 - Tarantino vs. Dano 3:59 - Casting Paul Sunday 6:23 - Kel O'Neill: The Original Eli Sunday 8:13 - Paul Dano: The New Eli Sunday 9:08 - Crafting the Character 12:02 - Going on Instinct 13:23 - Working with Daniel Day-Lewis 16:44 - Getting Physical 19:10 - Trusting Each Other 20:27 - Final Thoughts