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This film boasts a talented cast, depicting the real-life story of coach Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern migrant parents. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the youngster was taught to confront racist bullies and transformed into a celebrity titleholder in the late 90s. Ingle nurtured his flamboyant confidence and powerful punches, but after becoming rich, Hamed betrayed his mentor, cutting him out and making him a blend of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Pierce Brosnan plays Ingle; El-Masry embodies the part of the prince, and Stephens appears as the assertive promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that Ingle had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

However, the film honestly lacks the fighter’s agility: the fight scenes flow well, but the all-important story between them is repeatedly 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 opportunity to show any subtlety or much of what might make his character really interesting – although he’s obviously been working out and appears convincing in the boxing arena.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is repeatedly lumbered with utilitarian, expositional dialogue that inform you exactly what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“You started your boxing journey at seven years old …”). This is the kind of dialogue that digital executives call “second-screen”, making sure you know what’s going on while you’re viewing the movie but also glancing at your phone. And, the background music is overpowering, at times almost deafening, particularly in the scene where Hamed gets too excited visiting the promoter in his luxurious residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While the leads do their very best, their dynamic doesn’t quite ignites, and the big set-piece boxing moments are often anticlimactically cut short. A key scene is surely when, goaded beyond endurance in the gym one day by Hamed as a misguided “old man”, Ingle in fact offers to get in the ring and box him. All present in the gym is shocked and uneasy. How exactly is this insanely risky confrontation going to play out? How precisely the outcome? Certainly the champion is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he emotionally hold back? It’s not clear.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there are no some good moments. Brosnan elicits humor when Ingle informs a journalist what he’s teaching the youths from his neighborhood: to reject prejudice and when you encounter a paedophile, “Hit them in the groin”. It’s funny too when the boxer fidgets at the ridiculous antics Ingle makes him do in the early days: acting like the “monster from the Middle East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

Regarding the rift, the film depicts this as being worsened by a tell-all book that Ingle is supposed to have authored (a story element clearly modified from another source), and there is an interestingly conceived last discussion – however the heartfelt homage that the boxer is supposed to have given to Ingle after his death is only mentioned in the closing credits, and not shown on film. There is interesting material here, but the blows don’t land.

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