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This film features a talented cast, depicting the real-life tale of coach Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Yorkshire youth from Yemeni migrant family. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to confront prejudice and molded into a media-friendly titleholder in the 1990s. The trainer nurtured his showboating arrogance and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, Hamed betrayed his coach, excluding him and turning him into a mix of John Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan portrays Ingle; El-Masry takes on the role of Hamed, and Stephens appears as the bullish London promoter Frank Warren, who recognized the goldmine that the coach had discovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

Yet, the film honestly lacks the Prince’s agility: the fight scenes run smoothly, but the all-important drama between them is consistently flat and monotonous. There is no subtlety or contrast in the depiction of Hamed himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise outstanding performer, doesn’t get the opportunity to show any depth or much of what might make his character truly engaging – although he’s clearly been training and looks very plausible in the boxing arena.

Dialogue and Music Issues

The drama is repeatedly burdened by utilitarian, expositional dialogue that tell you exactly what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“You started your career at seven years old …”). This is the kind of script that streaming-TV producers call “second-screen”, ensuring you know what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the film but also checking your phone. Additionally, the score is overbearing, sometimes nearly deafening, particularly in the scene where Hamed gets overexcited visiting the promoter in his luxurious residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

Although El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their relationship never really ignites, and the big set-piece boxing moments are often disappointingly truncated. A key moment is surely when, goaded beyond endurance in the training facility one day by the boxer as a misguided “elder”, Ingle actually offers to step into the ring and fight him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this extremely risky standoff going to unfold? How precisely the ending? Certainly the champion is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he emotionally pull his punches? It’s not clear.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some nice jabs. The actor elicits humor when his character informs a journalist what he’s teaching the kids from his local community: to oppose prejudice and when you meet a offender, “Hit them in the bollocks”. It’s funny too when Hamed fidgets at the ridiculous antics Ingle makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “monster from the Middle East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

Regarding the rift, the movie shows this as being worsened by a tell-all book that Ingle is allegedly authored (a story element clearly adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly imagined final conversation – although the emotional tribute that the boxer is reportedly given to Ingle after his passing is merely mentioned in the closing credits, and not dramatised on film. There is engaging content here, but the punches don’t land.

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