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This film boasts a talented ensemble, telling the true tale of Irish boxing trainer Brendan Ingle, who mentored a brash Sheffield teenager from Yemeni immigrant parents. Known as “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to confront racist bullies and transformed into a media-friendly titleholder in the 1990s. Ingle nurtured his showboating confidence and powerful punches, but after becoming rich, Hamed turned against his mentor, excluding him and making him a mix of Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Pierce Brosnan portrays Ingle; Amir El-Masry embodies the role of Hamed, and Toby Stephens appears as the assertive promoter Warren, who recognized the potential that Ingle had discovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the movie honestly misses the Prince’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes flow well, but the crucial story between them is consistently flat and monotonous. There is no nuance or contrast in the portrayal of Hamed himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the chance to display any depth or much of what might make his character really interesting – even though he’s clearly been working out and appears convincing in the boxing arena.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is repeatedly lumbered with functional, expositional dialogue that tell you precisely what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“You started your boxing journey at age seven …”). It is the kind of script that digital executives call “second-screen”, making sure you understand what’s unfolding while you’re watching the film but also glancing at your phone. And, the score is overpowering, at times nearly overwhelming, particularly in the moment where Hamed gets too excited visiting Warren in his luxurious residence.

Performances and Key Moments

While the leads do their considerable best, their relationship doesn’t quite comes to life, and the major fight scenes are frequently disappointingly truncated. The most important scene is surely when, provoked beyond endurance in the gym one day by the boxer as a delusional “old man”, Ingle in fact offers to get in the ring and box him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this insanely unwise standoff going to unfold? What will be the ending? Certainly the Prince is going to kill him? Alternatively will he sentimentally hold back? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some good moments. Brosnan elicits humor when his character tells a journalist what he’s teaching the youths from his local community: to reject prejudice and when you encounter a paedophile, “Punch him in the groin”. Amusing too when Hamed squirms at the silly stunts the coach makes him do in the beginning: posing as the “monster from the Middle East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the falling out, the film shows this as being worsened by a revealing publication that Ingle is supposed to have authored (a plot point clearly adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly conceived final conversation – however the emotional tribute that the boxer is reportedly given to his mentor after his death is merely referenced in the closing credits, and not shown on film. There is interesting material in this film, but the blows fail to connect.

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