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The movie features a talented ensemble, depicting the true story of coach Ingle, who mentored a brash Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern migrant family. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the fighter was taught to stand up to prejudice and molded into a celebrity world champion in the late 90s. Ingle nurtured his flamboyant confidence and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, Hamed betrayed his mentor, excluding him and turning him into a blend of John Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

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

Where the Movie Falls Short

Yet, the film frankly lacks the Prince’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences flow well, but the crucial drama in between is repeatedly dull and monotonous. It lacks nuance or light and shade in the portrayal of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, isn’t given 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.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is repeatedly burdened by utilitarian, expositional dialogue that inform you precisely what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your boxing journey at age seven …”). It is the sort of dialogue that digital producers call “double-screen”, making sure you understand what’s unfolding while you’re watching the film but also glancing at your device. And, the background music is overpowering, at times almost deafening, particularly in the scene where the boxer gets overexcited calling on the promoter in his luxurious residence.

Performances and Key Moments

Although El-Masry and Brosnan do their very utmost, their relationship doesn’t quite comes to life, and the major fight scenes are frequently anticlimactically truncated. A key scene is surely when, goaded beyond endurance in the gym one day by Hamed as a delusional “old man”, the trainer actually proposes to step into the ring and box him. Everyone in the room is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this extremely unwise standoff going to unfold? How precisely the ending? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he sentimentally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there are no some good moments. The actor elicits humor when Ingle informs a journalist what he’s instructing the youths from his neighborhood: to reject bias and when you encounter a offender, “Hit them in the bollocks”. It’s funny too when Hamed fidgets at the silly stunts the coach makes him do in the early days: posing as the “beast from the Middle East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the falling out, the film depicts this as being worsened by a revealing book that the trainer is supposed to have authored (a plot point evidently adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly imagined final conversation – however the heartfelt homage that Hamed is reportedly paid to Ingle after his passing is merely referenced in the end titles, and not dramatised on film. There is engaging content here, but the punches fail to connect.

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