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The movie boasts a talented cast, telling the real-life story of coach Brendan Ingle, who guided a brash Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern migrant parents. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to confront racist bullies and molded into a media-friendly titleholder in the 1990s. The trainer cultivated his showboating confidence and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, Hamed betrayed his coach, cutting him out and turning him into a blend of John Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan portrays Ingle; El-Masry takes on the role of Hamed, and Stephens is the bullish promoter Warren, who saw the potential that Ingle had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the movie frankly lacks the fighter’s agility: the boxing sequences run smoothly, but the crucial drama in between is repeatedly flat and monotonous. There is no subtlety or contrast in the portrayal of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, isn’t given the chance to show any subtlety or much of what might make his character truly engaging – even though he’s clearly been working out and looks very plausible in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is often lumbered with functional, expositional dialogue that inform you exactly what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at age seven …”). This is the kind of dialogue that streaming-TV producers call “double-screen”, making sure you understand what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the film but also glancing at your device. And, the background music is overpowering, sometimes almost deafening, especially in the moment where Hamed gets too excited visiting Warren in his luxurious home.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While the leads do their considerable best, their dynamic doesn’t quite ignites, and the major boxing moments are often anticlimactically cut short. A key moment is surely when, goaded past his limit in the training facility one day by Hamed as a delusional “elder”, the trainer in fact offers to get in the ring and fight him. All present in the room is shocked and uncomfortable. How exactly is this insanely risky confrontation going to play out? What will be the outcome? Certainly the champion is going to kill him? Or will he sentimentally pull his punches? It’s not clear.

Bright Spots and Comedy

That’s not to say that there are no some nice jabs. The actor elicits humor when his character informs a journalist what he’s teaching the kids from his local community: to reject bias and when you encounter a offender, “Punch him in the groin”. It’s funny too when the boxer fidgets at the silly stunts Ingle makes him do in the beginning: posing as the “beast from the East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the rift, the film depicts this as being worsened by a tell-all publication that Ingle is allegedly authored (a plot point evidently adapted from prior material), and there is an intriguingly imagined last discussion – however the emotional tribute that the boxer is supposed to have paid to his mentor after his passing is only referenced in the closing credits, and not shown on film. There is interesting material here, but the punches don’t land.

Giant screened at the festival and is in UK and Irish cinemas from January 9.