Julian Schnabel's In the Hand of Dante, starring Oscar Isaac in a dual role, is a sprawling, tonally erratic film that follows a fictionalised manuscript of Dante's Divine Comedy through mobsters, reincarnation and modern journalism. Despite committed performances from Isaac, Al Pacino, Gerard Butler and John Malkovich, the movie is often incomprehensible and wildly uneven, yet may appeal to those who relish audacious cinematic excess. The film premiered at Venice in 2025 and streams on Netflix from June 24, 2026.
A long-gestating and ambitious project, In the Hand of Dante is a chaotic blend of genres and tone like Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis in 2024, there’s 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.
Again, like Coppola’s picture, there is a certain level of respect that has been earned by Schnabel for the bold decisions he’s made here, even if they largely don’t work.and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. 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 in 2001, to verify its authenticity.
Tosches wrote the novel the movie’s 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’s wife Gemma and Nick’s temporary assistant. Oscar Isaac takes the dual lead role of Dante Alighieri and journalist Nick Tosches Gal Gadot appears in another dual role as his destined love, but struggles with underwriting It’s already quite a lot to contend with, without the onslaught of Dante quotations pelted at the audience throughout the film’s 153-minute run time, of which I felt many of those minutes.
However, there are some bright spots, including an extended cameo for Pacino as Nick’s uncle during his childhood; as well as elevating anything he’s in, he’s the only actor that truly masters the film’s confusing swings between high drama and comedy with total believability. 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’s in almost every scene and the rest of the film is largely on fire around him.
As a violent gangster and also the pope, Gerard Butler comes off well by deciding to treat the movie as a comedy In the Hand of Dante is at times incomprehensible, bordering on ludicrous, but Isaac probes himself a great actor in difficult circumstances Although I would say giving a man a penchant for sniffing women’s tights in this day and age is quite hard to recover from when we all know they are the least sexy garment.
Butler is a pleasant surprise in his own dual role of particularly nasty gangster and Italian pope – he’s made the decision that the film is a comedy and his performances work all the better for it. His associate, played by Malkovich, is also a bit of a hoot because he’s an actor who always brings his own distinct, slightly odd vibe. And that’s perfect for this movie.
Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa, Franco Nero, Martin Scorsese, Sabrina Impacciatore, Louis Cancelmi, Benjamin ClementineIn 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. Unfortunately, Gadot’s parts are both underwritten and over-the-top, but nor does she exactly shine.
She’s 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. 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.
It’s also very violent in places with its mob connections, including one especially vile mafia execution by Butler’s character, and another scene involving fingernails being torn off by someone’s teeth. Shudder. Tori BrazierDean Cain facing backlash over vile joke about Supergirl star Milly Alcock's faceAlthough some separate scenes and stars have merit on their own, it’s not enough to lift the film from unintelligible chaos – but you may enjoy it for that very reason.
In the Hand of Dante is a sprawling, overly-ambitious mess that’s hard to follow at times, despite some of its actors’ best efforts. But if you enjoyed Megalopolis’s perplexing excess of, well, everything, then this may be one for you. In the Hand of Dante is in select UK cinemas from today. It will stream exclusively on Netflix from June 24.
Tori BrazierI know exactly who the next BBC Doctor Who boss should be
Please follow us on Google to support us In The Hand Of Dante Julian Schnabel Oscar Isaac Gal Gadot Gerard Butler Al Pacino John Malkovich Netflix Film Review Megalopolis Comparison
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Julian Alvarez: How Atletico striker became sought-after by La Liga giantsJulian Alvarez heads to the World Cup aiming to fire Argentina to back-to-back triumphs at a time when he is the subject of one the most sensational transfer bids ever made.
Read more »
Devon council leader says water bosses should be 'locked up'County council leader Julian Brazil says executives could face jail time over sewage discharges.
Read more »
Alvarez transfer clause truth with City in line for windfall amid Real bidManchester City will profit from any move for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez this summer
Read more »
Lothar Matthaus Predicts Two Exit Scenarios for Julian NagelsmannGerman football legend Lothar Matthaus suggests that national team manager Julian Nagelsmann could leave his post early, either by resigning after winning the 2026 World Cup or being dismissed following a group-stage failure.
Read more »