Julian Schnabel has not made a film since At Eternity's Gate in 2018. In the Hand of Dante is in theaters now, and it is a lot to take in.
Oscar Isaac plays two roles: Nick Tosches, a New York writer in 2001 recruited by a crime boss to authenticate an original Dante manuscript, and Dante himself in 14th century Italy. The film cuts between them. The modern story is shot in black and white. The medieval one is in color. Gal Gadot plays his counterpart in both centuries. Gerard Butler plays the crime boss and Pope Bonifacio. John Malkovich is there too.
It is not a clean film. Schnabel makes painter films, and this is a painter film. It takes swings. Some of them land.
If you like Schnabel, this is what you should expect. If you don't know his work, start with The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
No comments yet