Oscar Isaac's dual role is impressive. Not bad. The film's attempt to merge a mob saga with Dante's story is overly ambitious, and it shows in the plodding, observational pacing that prioritizes intellectual curiosity over emotional resonance, resulting in a viewing experience that feels more like a dry, academic exercise in comparative literature than a rich, cinematic exploration of the human condition. It's a shame, really.
It's a mess. The plot is set in the early 2000s. You'll see Tosches getting hired by Joe Black, played by John Malkovich, to get a rare handwritten work by Dante. Here's the thing: this thing's supposed to sell for a lot. Gerard Butler plays two roles: Louie, the violent mob guy, and Pope Boniface VIII. We've also got Gal Gadot in a couple roles, which actually helps link the timelines. The movie hints at exploring some deep themes, like the conflict between religion and violence. For example, Al Pacino's in one scene, and it's pretty impactful. He's advising a young Tosches, and it's worth mentioning. The heist part of the story is sluggish, though. It feels like something a film student would make, and the dialogue is way too verbose. They've got a good cast, but the story doesn't quite come together. It's a shame, because with a bit more focus, this could've been something special. But the real feel of the movie gets lost in all the unnecessary words.
Dante’s Inferno Done Dirty
It's a mess. The timelines don't really connect. You'll see some cool ideas, like Tosches identifying with Dante, which is worth mentioning. They've got a great concept, it's just not executed well, with the past and present feeling like separate stories. Martin Scorsese shows up, it's a key moment, he's talking about what inspired "The Divine Comedy", you'll like that part. Honestly, the problem is, it's over quickly. Jason Momoa tries to bring some energy, but it's too little, too late, the film's already lost its way.
It's a shame. The 9/11 events are there. You'll notice them, of course. They're just not the focus. We've got this manuscript verification process, which is the real feel of "In the Hand of Dante". It's worth mentioning, for sure. Schnabel directs with a certain honesty, we've seen it before, and Vasyanov's camera work is key - it's just not that impressive, you'll find yourself thinking about the story, not the visuals, which is a problem, given the potential of the game to explore the story in a more meaningful way, with 2001 being a pivotal year, it's surprising they didn't make more of it.
A Love Letter Gone Wrong
It's a flop. You'll notice the difference from Schnabel's other films, like "Basquiat". The magic is gone, now it's dry. In "In the Hand of Dante", they explain things, not show them. The review score is 4, which is honest. They've failed to make it work, with the slow pace and all, it's just not what you'd expect from a film with big themes like this, it's key that they missed the mark.
The Bad Gamer Take
Paramount Pictures will struggle to recover from the poor reception of "In the Hand of Dante" because the film's overly ambitious narrative and plodding pacing have resulted in a disjointed viewing experience. The studio will likely re-evaluate their approach to adapting complex literary works in the future, as the film's failure to resonate with audiences is a significant blow to their prestige film endeavors. WATCH the upcoming projects from Martin Scorsese to see if he can bounce back from this misstep.
It's a letdown. "In the Hand of Dante" had potential. You'll notice the star power, with a cast that's genuinely impressive. For fans of "The Divine Comedy", it's worth mentioning that this film doesn't quite deliver on its promises, lacking the real feel of a compelling story. We've seen better crossover efforts, and in this case, the concept is more interesting than the execution, which is key to a movie's success, and unfortunately, "In the Hand of Dante" falls short in many areas, particularly with its inability to balance different elements, making it hard to stay engaged, it's a shame, really.
