Paul Dano is a master of vulnerability, and this versatility has earned him a reputation as one of Hollywood's most sought-after character actors. From the eerie minor drama 'The King' to the crowd-pleasing road trip comedy 'Little Miss Sunshine', Dano can seamlessly adapt to any role.
One of his standout performances was in 'There Will Be Blood,' where he played Eli Sunday, a preacher who challenges oil tycoon Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis). The tension between the two is palpable, as Plainview's alpha-male persona clashes with Eli's awkward vulnerability. Dano's portrayal marked him out as an actor to watch.
In 'Love & Mercy,' Dano takes on the role of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boy who struggled with mental health issues and creative blockages. The film ping-pongs between Wilson's 1960s psychedelic heyday and his darker struggles in the 1980s. Dano delivers a nuanced performance that captures the musician's complexities.
Another remarkable portrayal is in 'Love & Mercy,' where Dano captures Brian Wilson's highs and lows with equal parts perfectionism and timidity. His dedication to this role has earned him critical acclaim, including comparisons to Anthony Lane of The New Yorker, who raved about his fine depiction of Wilson.
Despite being criticized by Quentin Tarantino as lacking in machismo for playing less rugged characters, Dano proves himself here on film to be equalled only by his portrayal of a convict having an affair with a prison employee in Ben Stiller's 2018 mini-series Escape at Dannemora.
One of his standout performances was in 'There Will Be Blood,' where he played Eli Sunday, a preacher who challenges oil tycoon Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis). The tension between the two is palpable, as Plainview's alpha-male persona clashes with Eli's awkward vulnerability. Dano's portrayal marked him out as an actor to watch.
In 'Love & Mercy,' Dano takes on the role of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boy who struggled with mental health issues and creative blockages. The film ping-pongs between Wilson's 1960s psychedelic heyday and his darker struggles in the 1980s. Dano delivers a nuanced performance that captures the musician's complexities.
Another remarkable portrayal is in 'Love & Mercy,' where Dano captures Brian Wilson's highs and lows with equal parts perfectionism and timidity. His dedication to this role has earned him critical acclaim, including comparisons to Anthony Lane of The New Yorker, who raved about his fine depiction of Wilson.
Despite being criticized by Quentin Tarantino as lacking in machismo for playing less rugged characters, Dano proves himself here on film to be equalled only by his portrayal of a convict having an affair with a prison employee in Ben Stiller's 2018 mini-series Escape at Dannemora.
and Paul Dano is literally so talented he can play these super vulnerable characters but still make you feel all the emotions 
what's up with that?! and btw, who's Anthony Lane and why should we care about his opinion on movies lol?
Paul Dano is literally the ultimate actor rn!!! I love how he can go from drama to comedy like it's nothing... his range is insane! And can we talk about 'Love & Mercy' tho? He totally nails Brian Wilson's complexities and I'm obsessed with his performance 
. I think people are hating on him for playing more emotional roles but honestly, that's what makes him so amazing at his job 
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Paul Dano's acting range is insane! He's got the whole "vulnerable weirdo" thing down pat 
. From Eli Sunday to Brian Wilson, he always brings something special to his roles 
. And honestly, who needs machismo when you can bring depth and nuance like Dano does? 
But what really gets me is how he always seems to choose roles that are kinda... offbeat? Like, what's up with 'Love & Mercy' and the Beach Boy character? Is he trying to tell us something about mental health or just wanting to play a dude in shades? 
And don't even get me started on Quentin Tarantino's beef with him - it's like, what do they want from each other? 
Is Dano hiding something behind those puppy dog eyes of his? 
I'm onto you, Paul! 
, he can just slip into any role and make it his own. I loved him in 'There Will Be Blood', the tension between Daniel Day-Lewis's character and Eli Sunday was so intense 
. And his portrayal of Brian Wilson in 'Love & Mercy' was insane, he really captures the highs and lows of that guy's life 
. People might say he doesn't do enough macho roles, but honestly I think he just has better judgment than Quentin Tarantino 
. Plus, he's got some great supporting performances under his belt too, like in 'Little Miss Sunshine' which is a total hidden gem 
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His range is insane! I'm not surprised he's got Quentin Tarantino's seal of approval now 
. Don't get me wrong, he's got some amazing roles under his belt, but to me, it's all about the hype at this point. Like, come on, a mini-series where he plays a convict having an affair? That's just not that deep of a role 
. And yeah, I've heard Tarantino trash him for being too soft, but honestly, who needs machismo when you can bring nuance to a character like Brian Wilson? The dude's got range, but let's be real, it's time for someone else to get the spotlight 
What's up with the website anyway? Can't they optimize for mobile users? Anyway, back to Dano... yeah, he's def got skills, no doubt. But have you noticed how all his roles are basically just " tortured soul" vibes? 
He's like a chameleon on screen, effortlessly switching between drama and comedy and even playing some pretty intense roles like that prison convict in Escape at Dannemora 
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Like 3 times for his work in There Will Be Blood, Love & Mercy, and Birdman? 
Here are the worldwide grosses for his films:
. What do you guys think?
i mean, who else could make a preacher and a beach boy both so compelling? 
I love how he can be all goofy and fun when Wilson was making those awesome Beach Boy songs, but then you see the darker side of him and it's just... wow. 
. And yeah, maybe Quentin Tarantino didn't appreciate his more nuanced approach, but that just goes to show he's pushing boundaries and doing something different