Netflix’s "In the Hand of Dante" packs an unlikely ensemble that includes Al Pacino, Martin Scorsese, Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, Oscar Isaac and Israeli star Gal Gadot, but the film is described as a major disappointment that is not even an interesting failure. Published on June 25, 2026, the review says Gadot is moving into unfamiliar territory here, away from family-friendly movies and into a more adult, artistic and erotic role.
The plot centers on a rare, supposedly lost original manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s "The Divine Comedy," discovered in the 2000s. Mafia boss Joe Black, played by John Malkovich, hires Dante expert and writer Nick Tosches, played by Oscar Isaac, to verify it. Tosches travels from New York to Europe, falls for Julieta, played by Gadot, and gets drawn into a chase involving mobsters, scholars, art forgers and even the Vatican.
The film is based on Tosches’ novel of the same name and was directed by Julian Schnabel. The review says Schnabel insists on keeping both timelines from the book, the modern story and scenes set in the 14th century, but the historical material adds only length. Isaac also plays Dante Alighieri, while Gadot plays Dante’s wife, Gemma Donati. The review calls the script chaotic and the directing arbitrary, and criticizes Malkovich’s accent.
Gadot’s role includes sexual scenes with Isaac and a visual reference to Botticelli’s "The Birth of Venus," where she emerges from the sea. The reviewer says she has charisma and humor, but this project suggests a worrying pattern in her career choices, following the failures of "Snow White" and "Heart of Stone," with the planned "Cleopatra" still unresolved. At 153 minutes, the film is said to be bloated, frustrating and a waste of time.
