Gal Gadot Faces Harsh Criticism for Netflix Film 'In the Hand of Dante'

Gal Gadot is once again under intense scrutiny for her acting skills following the release of her new Netflix film "In the Hand of Dante," which has received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Directed by Oscar nominee Julian Schnabel, the film features a star-studded cast including Oscar Isaac, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, and Martin Scorsese. Despite this, critics and audiences alike have largely panned the movie, with particular attention drawn to Gadot's performance.

Reviewers described the film in harsh terms: Decider called it a "train wreck," highlighting Gadot's stiff delivery, while Roger Ebert's site found the movie alternately "fascinating and boring." Little White Lies was especially critical, labeling it "not even entertaining enough to be a captivating disaster" and citing some of the worst performances in the cast's careers. However, The Guardian offered a more moderate view, awarding the film three out of five stars.

The narrative of "In the Hand of Dante" alternates between early 2000s New York and 14th-century Italy. Oscar Isaac plays Nick Tosches, a writer tasked by a powerful mafia boss (John Malkovich) to authenticate a secret manuscript of Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy." The story involves violent crime elements, with Gerard Butler portraying a ruthless hitman pursuing the valuable document. Gadot appears briefly in an artistic nude scene as the goddess Venus in a dream sequence.

Audience reactions have been equally critical, with some viewers bluntly calling Gadot a "bad actress" regardless of the era she is cast in and demanding she be removed from the screen. This is not the first time Gadot, 41, has faced such criticism; her roles in "Snow White," "Death on the Nile," and "Heart of Stone" have also been questioned. Last year, she retracted a statement blaming anti-Israel sentiment for the box office failure of "Snow White," clarifying that multiple factors affect a film's success.

Gadot, who rose to global fame with 2017's "Wonder Woman," has acknowledged her critics but maintains confidence in her abilities. She stated, "I think I'm okay, there are more talented people than me but I don't think I'm a bad actress." Despite early success, including the "Fast and Furious" franchise, her recent projects have struggled to achieve consistent acclaim or commercial success.