Film Review: IN THE HAND OF DANTE: A Terrifically Conceived Movie With a Great Cast That Often Hits the Mark [Tribeca 2026]

In the Hand of Dante Review

In the Hand of Dante (2025) Film Review from the 25th Annual Tribeca Film Festival, a movie directed by Julian Schnabel, written by Louise Kugelberg and Julian Schnabel and starring Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa, Duke Nicholson, Denise Capezza, Louis Cancelmi, Galen Hopper, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Vincenzo Leto, Giorgia Arena and Martin Scorsese.

In the Hand of Dante is a work of great complexity that occasionally loses its footing with its traditional mob themes that get a little too heavy-handed for their own good, at least in this particular film. Still, there are plenty of interesting images and wickedly smart characterizations that will make any fan of Oscar Isaac excited as this may be the most ambitious project the acclaimed actor has ever taken on in his very distinguished career of exceptional roles.

Directed by Julian Schnabel, this new movie is a homage to the work of Dante Alighieri as you may have guessed from the movie’s clever title. An original manuscript of Dante’s The Divine Comedy that is discovered could have some authenticity to it and that is the “MacGuffin” of sorts that thrusts the plot of In the Hand of Dante into motion.

Oscar Issac portrays both a fictionalized Nick Tosches and the brilliant Dante, himself, in parallel stories within Schnabel’s new picture. Recruited by the mob in the 21st century and playing Dante in the 14th century, the movie doesn’t waste any time at all getting right into the meat and potatoes of the action. Al Pacino comes on playing Nick’s Uncle Carmine with aplomb and sets the stage for some wild and zany situations that go down over the course of the two-and-a-half hour new picture.

Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese plays Isaiah, a mentor to Dante who sports a long beard and the famous director has enough sincerity in this role to make it one of the best ones he’s played yet. Scorsese leaps off the screen with a fine turn as the wise Isaiah and other big names appear in the movie too such as  a solid John Malkovich as the aptly named Joe Black, a mob boss who meets a dire fate (as you would expect) in his attempts to get the manuscript in the hands of the “right” people.

Gal Gadot is brilliant in her dual role within the picture. She plays Nick’s lover, Giulietta, in the modern scenes and Dante’s muse, Gemma Donati, in the scenes from way back when. There’s something about Gadot’s movie star appeal that gives her the outer image of an iconic woman who could be from any given time period which makes her perfect for these roles. Gadot and Isaac also have superb chemistry on-screen and romance saturates their ill-fated connection(s) which are multi-faceted in their excesses.

Don’t forget Gerard Butler in one of his best turns to date in a dual role. He plays a hit man named Louie and the decidedly corrupt Pope Bonifacio VIII. Louie is the role that Butler really takes by the horns and the actor walks away with some of the best dialogue in the movie as he rides alongside Nick in an effort to help him with the manuscript-related endeavors that are said to be leading to a potentially financially prosperous pay day. Butler steals scenes with his over-the-top style and the actor is to be credited for certainly playing against type this time around and acting wilder on-screen than we’ve ever seen him before.

In the Hand of Dante gets violent as one may expect from the volatile characterizations that it creates, but the movie is a truly inspired piece of art. It pays respect to the great poet, Dante, while digging deep inside the unique plot details it showcases that will surely keep audiences watching.

Isaac’s Nick talks at the beginning of the film about how a great editor simply lets artists do their thing in order to create their own work, and the same can be said for film-making. By allowing Schnabel to be creative and express himself with passion through his storytelling, the artistry of this film truly comes into full view.

That being said, there are some minor flaws with the film. The casting of Jason Momoa leaves much to be desired. While the actor looks menacing enough to play the pivotal part of Rosario, the actor struggles to keep the role feeling plausible and doesn’t fit into the film well due to the way he overacts. This new movie could also be trimmed about 20 minutes and has scenes that look as if they belong in a director’s cut rather than an actual completed, edited movie.

Those are small flaws, though. In the Hand of Dante is still an exceptionally crafted picture. Isaac has never been better in a lead role before as he creates raw emotions and often sizzles on-screen opposite the luminous Gadot. If the film’s plot feels like it could just be an excuse for some clever literary references against the backdrop of a mob-related story, so be it. In the Hand of Dante still features Oscar Isaac’s showiest role to date and should not be missed by fans of the acclaimed performer.

Rating: 7.5/10

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