![\"Oscar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_264520462-586e.jpg\")
\n\t\tA long-gestating and ambitious project, In the Hand of Dante is a chaotic blend of genres and tone (Picture: Dreamcrew Entertainment)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tA long-gestating and ambitious project, In the Hand of Dante is a chaotic blend of genres and tone (Picture: Dreamcrew Entertainment)<\/p>\n
In the Hand of Dante<\/a> is quietly being released in select cinemas today by Netflix<\/a>, not that you\u2019d likely realise after the movie was rinsed by critics at its Venice Film Festival premiere<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n The new film from acclaimed director Julian Schnabel<\/a> sadly proves that 15 years in development doesn\u2019t a movie masterpiece make.<\/p>\n And like Francis Ford Coppola\u2019s Megalopolis <\/a>in 2024, there\u2019s a distinct impression of a veteran filmmaker left to run riot and turn in an overly indulgent and, at times, incomprehensible film that claims to address major themes but will most likely leave audiences baffled.<\/p>\n Again, like Coppola\u2019s picture, there is a certain level of respect that has been earned by Schnabel for the bold decisions he\u2019s made here, even if they largely don\u2019t work.<\/p>\n He too has assembled a starry and slightly random cast for In the Hand of Dante, with Oscar Isaac<\/a>, Gal Gadot<\/a>, Gerard Butler<\/a>, Jason Momoa<\/a>, Al Pacino<\/a>, John Malkovich<\/a>, Franco Nero and \u2013 um \u2013 Martin Scorsese<\/a> popping up.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on all things Netflix\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n The ambitious story sees Isaac play Italian literary giant Dante Alighieri, charting the journey of a handwritten manuscript of his 14th-century masterpiece poem The Divine Comedy from the Vatican library to a New York mob boss and to journalist Nick Tosches (also Isaac) in 2001, to verify its authenticity.<\/p>\n Tosches wrote the novel the movie\u2019s based on, which contains this fictionalised version of himself, but Schnabel went a step further and decided to make Tosches the reincarnation of Dante, alongside Gadot as both Dante\u2019s wife Gemma and Nick\u2019s temporary assistant.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t It\u2019s already quite a lot to contend with, without the onslaught of Dante quotations pelted at the audience throughout the film\u2019s 153-minute run time, of which I felt many of those minutes.<\/p>\n However, there are some bright spots, including an extended cameo for Pacino as Nick\u2019s uncle during his childhood; as well as elevating anything he\u2019s in, he\u2019s the only actor that truly masters the film\u2019s confusing swings between high drama and comedy with total believability.<\/p>\n Isaac also does his best in two very challenging roles, perhaps succeeding slightly better as the rather chaotic and sleazy Nick. But he remains a great and committed actor, something which is of particular note in In the Hand of Dante when he\u2019s in almost every scene and the rest of the film is largely on fire around him.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Although I would say giving a man a penchant for sniffing women\u2019s tights in this day and age is quite hard to recover from when we all know they are the least sexy garment.<\/p>\n Butler is a pleasant surprise in his own dual role of particularly nasty gangster and (an oddly Scottish) Italian pope \u2013 he\u2019s made the decision that the film is a comedy and his performances work all the better for it. <\/p>\n His associate, played by Malkovich, is also a bit of a hoot because he\u2019s an actor who always brings his own distinct, slightly odd vibe. And that\u2019s perfect for this movie.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tIn the Hand of Dante: Key details\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDirector<\/p>\n Julian Schnabel<\/p>\n Writer<\/p>\n Julian Schnabel, based on the book by Nick Tosches<\/p>\n Cast<\/p>\n Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa, Franco Nero, Martin Scorsese, Sabrina Impacciatore, Louis Cancelmi, Benjamin Clementine<\/p>\n Age rating<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n Run time<\/p>\n 2hr 33m<\/p>\n Release date<\/p>\n In the Hand of Dante premiered at Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2025. It will be released in select UK cinemas on June 12, 2026 before releasing on Netflix on June 24.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Gadot\u2019s parts are both underwritten and over-the-top, but nor does she exactly shine. She\u2019s too quick to fall head over heels, although asking for realism in a film where actors are playing 700-year-old reincarnations is probably a bit much.<\/p>\n Schnabel says In the Hand of Dante is a tragicomedy, but it comes across as noir, satire, melodrama and absurdist comedy depending on the scene. I say this not because everything must fit neatly into one genre but to emphasise how all over the shop the tone of the movie is.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also very violent in places with its mob connections, including one especially vile mafia execution by Butler\u2019s character, and another scene involving fingernails being torn off by someone\u2019s teeth. Shudder.<\/p>\n \t\t The ending continues In the Hand of Dante\u2019s fondness towards being at times incomprehensible, bordering on ludicrous.<\/p>\n Although some separate scenes and stars have merit on their own, it\u2019s not enough to lift the film from unintelligible chaos \u2013 but you may enjoy it for that very reason.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tVerdict\t\t\t<\/p>\n In the Hand of Dante is a sprawling, overly-ambitious mess that\u2019s hard to follow at times, despite some of its actors\u2019 best efforts. But if you enjoyed Megalopolis\u2019s perplexing excess of, well, everything, then this may be one for you.<\/p>\n In the Hand of Dante is in select UK cinemas from today. It will stream exclusively on Netflix from June 24.<\/p>\n This review was first published on September 3, 2025.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300953579-4eea.jpg\")
\n\t\tOscar Isaac (pictured with co-star Martin Scorsese) takes the dual lead role of Dante Alighieri and journalist Nick Tosches (Picture: Alex Majoli\/ITHOD Productions Ltd.)<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300953666-a44e.jpg\")
\n\t\tGal Gadot appears in another dual role as his destined love, but struggles with underwriting (Picture: Alex Majoli\/ITHOD Productions Ltd.)<\/p>\n![\"***MUST](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299715620-d5ff.jpg\")
\n\t\tAs a violent gangster and also the pope, Gerard Butler comes off well by deciding to treat the movie as a comedy (Picture: Netflix)<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300953582-7380.jpg\")
\n\t\tIn the Hand of Dante is at times incomprehensible, bordering on ludicrous, but Isaac probes himself a great actor in difficult circumstances (Picture: Alex Majoli\/ITHOD Productions Ltd.)<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_300953665-48d6.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe film will be streaming on Netflix later this month (Picture: Alex Majoli\/ITHOD Productions Ltd.)<\/p>\n
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