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The movie boasts a talented cast, telling the true tale of Irish boxing trainer Ingle, who mentored a brash Sheffield youth from Yemeni immigrant parents. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to stand up to prejudice and molded into a media-friendly titleholder in the late 90s. The trainer cultivated his showboating arrogance and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, Hamed turned against his coach, excluding him and making him a mix of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Pierce Brosnan plays the trainer; Amir El-Masry takes on the part of the prince, and Toby Stephens appears as the assertive London promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that the coach had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the film honestly lacks the Prince’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences run smoothly, but the all-important story in between is repeatedly flat and one-note. It lacks nuance or light and shade in the depiction of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the chance to show any subtlety or much of what might make his character truly engaging – although he’s clearly been working out and appears convincing in the boxing arena.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is repeatedly burdened by functional, expositional dialogue that tell you precisely what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at seven years old …”). It is the kind of script that digital executives call “second-screen”, ensuring you know what’s going on while you’re watching the film but also checking your device. And, the background music is overbearing, at times nearly overwhelming, particularly in the moment where Hamed gets overexcited visiting the promoter in his luxurious residence.

Performances and Key Moments

Although El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their dynamic never really ignites, and the major fight scenes are often disappointingly truncated. The most important moment is surely when, goaded past his limit in the gym one day by the boxer as a delusional “old man”, the trainer actually offers to get in the ring and fight him. Everyone in the room is shocked and uncomfortable. How exactly is this insanely unwise confrontation going to unfold? What will be the outcome? Certainly the champion is going to kill him? Alternatively will he sentimentally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some nice jabs. The actor gets laughs when Ingle tells a journalist what he’s instructing the kids from his neighborhood: to reject bias and when you meet a paedophile, “Punch him in the groin”. It’s funny too when the boxer fidgets at the ridiculous antics Ingle makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “beast from the Middle East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

Regarding the falling out, the film depicts this as being exacerbated by a revealing publication that the trainer is allegedly authored (a story element evidently modified from prior material), and there is an interestingly imagined last discussion – however the emotional tribute that the boxer is reportedly paid to his mentor after his passing is merely referenced in the end titles, and not shown on film. Some interesting material in this film, but the punches don’t land.

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