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In the Hand of Dante review
Julian Schnabel’s combustible mix of lowlife cynicism and high art – along with cameos from Martin Scorsese and Al Pacino – powers this outrageous black comedy revolving around Dante’s Divine Comedy
TL;DR
- The film adapts Nick Tosches' novel, blending Renaissance scholarship with organized crime.
- Oscar Isaac plays both Dante Alighieri and the author Nick Tosches.
- Gerard Butler delivers a notable performance as a hitman and Pope Boniface VIII.
- The plot involves the potential discovery and sale of the original manuscript of Dante's "Divine Comedy."
- The film features cameos from Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, and Franco Nero.
- The narrative operates on two levels: medieval Florence and the US around 9/11.
- While initially praised for its humor and shocking elements, the film ultimately transitions into sentimental fantasy.