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This film boasts a talented ensemble, depicting the true story of coach Brendan Ingle, who guided a brash Yorkshire teenager from Middle Eastern immigrant parents. Known as “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to stand up to prejudice and molded into a celebrity titleholder in the 1990s. Ingle cultivated his flamboyant arrogance and powerful punches, but after becoming rich, Hamed betrayed his mentor, cutting him out and turning him into a blend of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan portrays Ingle; Amir El-Masry takes on the part of the prince, and Toby Stephens is the bullish promoter Warren, who saw the potential that the coach had discovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the film frankly lacks the Prince’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences flow well, but the crucial drama in between is repeatedly flat and one-note. It lacks nuance or light and shade in the depiction of Hamed himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, isn’t given the chance to show any subtlety or much of what might make his role really interesting – although he’s obviously been working out and appears convincing in the ring.

Dialogue and Music Issues

The story is often burdened by functional, expositional lines that inform you exactly what is happening and what we are meant to feel (“Your journey began your boxing journey at age seven …”). This is the kind of script that digital producers call “second-screen”, making sure you know what’s going on while you’re watching the movie but also checking your device. Additionally, the score is overpowering, at times almost overwhelming, particularly in the scene where the boxer gets too excited visiting Warren in his palatial home.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable best, their dynamic doesn’t quite ignites, and the major boxing moments are often disappointingly cut short. A key moment is surely when, goaded past his limit in the gym one day by Hamed as a misguided “elder”, Ingle actually proposes to step into the ring and fight him. Everyone in the room is shocked and uneasy. How exactly is this insanely risky confrontation going to unfold? What will be the ending? Certainly the Prince is going to kill him? Alternatively will he sentimentally hold back? It’s not clear.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there are no some nice jabs. The actor gets laughs when his character informs a journalist what he’s teaching the kids from his local community: to reject bias and when you meet a offender, “Punch him in the groin”. It’s funny too when the boxer squirms at the silly stunts Ingle makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “monster from the East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the falling out, the film shows this as being worsened by a revealing publication that the trainer is supposed to have authored (a plot point clearly modified from prior material), and there is an intriguingly conceived final conversation – however the heartfelt homage that Hamed is reportedly given to his mentor after his passing is merely referenced in the end titles, and not dramatised on screen. There is interesting material in this film, but the blows fail to connect.

Giant screened at the London film festival and is available in British and Irish cinemas from January 9.