A handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri's poem "The Divine Comedy" makes its way from a priest to a mob boss in New York City, where it is taken by Nick Tosches after he's asked to verify its authenticity.

Catch-22 says: Julian Schnabel’s *In the Hand of Dante* is an exercise in stylistic ambition that ultimately falters. The film’s core mystery, while intriguing on paper, unravels into a narrative quagmire, proving more frustrating than compelling. Despite this foundational weakness, the character work shines through, offering a fascinating glimpse into a world of shadowed motivations and complex individuals. Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, and Martin Scorsese deliver performances that are nothing short of magnetic, their on-screen chemistry a palpable force that elevates every shared scene. Their portrayals breathe life into the otherwise meandering journey of the ancient manuscript. However, the considerable runtime, clocking in at 150 minutes, feels protracted, a consequence of a plot that struggles to maintain momentum. The film’s entertainment value suffers significantly from this narrative inertia, leaving the audience more often disengaged than captivated. While the individual performances are a masterclass, they can’t fully compensate for a story that loses its way. *In the Hand of Dante* is a testament to strong acting trapped within a weak narrative framework.