In the Hand of Dante (2025) review

Novelist Nick Tosches (Oscar Isaac) and contract killer Louie (Gerard Butler) are given a job by financier Joe Black (John Malkovich) to fly to Italy, retrieve the original manuscript of the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri and authenticate the work - while this is taking place, it shows Dante himself (also played by Isaac) learning valuable lessons from his mentor (filmmaker extraordinaire Martin Scorsese) and spending time with his wife Gemma (Gal Gadot).  This adaptation of the late Tosches' book tries to be energetic and experimental - and the cinematography by Roman Vasyanov artfully mixes in color footage (mostly for the past) and black and white - except it proves to be too mammoth a task for Schnabel, as it goes in so many different directions - little Nick confesses to his Uncle (Al Pacino) he stabbed a kid, a young man murders his own cheating father, etc. - it manages to not only distract itself but it feels like multiple movies ravenously stitched together, so it never truly gels.  The casting decisions are certainly unique - Jason Momoa as a sharply dressed hitman is a standout - and the last few scenes are pleasingly dotty (as if they're out of an underground movie from the 70's shot without permits).  Those with an interest in the history of literature might want to take a look ... just keep a nice full bottle of red wine nearby for periodic sips.