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This film features a talented ensemble, depicting the true tale of Irish boxing trainer Brendan Ingle, who mentored a brash Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern migrant family. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to stand up to prejudice and molded into a celebrity titleholder in the late 90s. Ingle nurtured his flamboyant confidence and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, the boxer turned against his coach, excluding him and making him a blend of Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Pierce Brosnan plays Ingle; Amir El-Masry embodies the role of Hamed, and Stephens appears as the bullish London promoter Frank Warren, who saw the potential that the coach had discovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

Yet, the film frankly misses the fighter’s agility: the fight scenes flow well, but the all-important story in between is repeatedly flat and one-note. It lacks subtlety or light and shade in the depiction of the protagonist himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise excellent talent, isn’t given the opportunity to show any depth or much of what might make his character truly engaging – even though he’s clearly been working out and looks very plausible in the boxing arena.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is often lumbered with utilitarian, expositional lines that inform 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 sort of script that digital producers call “second-screen”, ensuring you understand what’s going on while you’re watching the movie but also checking your device. And, the score is overbearing, at times almost overwhelming, especially in the scene where the boxer gets overexcited visiting Warren in his palatial residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

Although El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their dynamic never really comes to life, and the major boxing moments are frequently anticlimactically cut short. The most important moment is certainly when, goaded past his limit in the gym one day by Hamed as a misguided “elder”, the trainer actually offers to step into the ring and fight him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uneasy. In what way is this extremely risky confrontation going to play out? What will be the outcome? Certainly the Prince is going to kill him? Or will he sentimentally hold back? It’s not clear.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some good moments. Brosnan gets laughs when Ingle tells a reporter what he’s teaching the youths from his local community: to reject prejudice and when you meet a paedophile, “Hit them in the groin”. Amusing too when Hamed squirms at the silly antics Ingle makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “monster from the East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the falling out, the movie depicts this as being exacerbated by a tell-all publication that Ingle is supposed to have authored (a story element clearly adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly conceived final conversation – although the heartfelt homage that the boxer is reportedly paid to Ingle after his death is merely referenced in the end titles, and not shown on film. Some engaging content here, but the punches don’t land.

Giant was shown at the London film festival and is in UK and Irish cinemas from January 9.