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The movie boasts a talented ensemble, telling the real-life story of Irish boxing trainer Ingle, who guided a cheeky Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern immigrant family. Known as Naseem Hamed, the fighter was taught to stand up to racist bullies and transformed into a media-friendly world champion in the 1990s. Ingle cultivated his flamboyant arrogance and powerful punches, but after becoming rich, Hamed betrayed his mentor, cutting him out and making him a blend of John Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Brosnan portrays the trainer; Amir El-Masry embodies the part of Hamed, and Stephens appears as the bullish promoter Frank Warren, who saw the potential that the coach had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the film honestly misses the fighter’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences flow well, but the crucial drama between them is consistently flat and monotonous. It lacks nuance or light and shade in the depiction of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, doesn’t get the opportunity to display any depth or much of what might make his role really interesting – although he’s clearly been working out and appears convincing in the boxing arena.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is often burdened by functional, expositional dialogue that tell you precisely what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at seven years old …”). This is the kind of script that digital producers call “double-screen”, ensuring you understand what’s going on while you’re viewing the film but also glancing at your phone. And, the score is overpowering, at times almost deafening, especially in the moment where Hamed gets too excited visiting the promoter in his luxurious residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

Although the leads do their very best, their dynamic never really ignites, and the major fight scenes are frequently disappointingly truncated. The most important scene is surely when, provoked past his limit in the training facility one day by Hamed as a delusional “elder”, the trainer in fact proposes to step into the ring and fight him. All present in the room is stunned and uncomfortable. In what way is this insanely unwise confrontation going to play out? What will be the outcome? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Or will he emotionally pull his punches? It’s not clear.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some good moments. Brosnan gets laughs when his character tells a journalist what he’s teaching the kids from his local community: to oppose bias and when you meet a offender, “Punch him in the groin”. It’s funny too when the boxer squirms at the ridiculous stunts Ingle makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “monster from the East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

Regarding 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 last discussion – although the emotional tribute that the boxer is supposed to have paid to Ingle after his death is only mentioned in the end titles, and not dramatised on film. Some interesting material in this film, but the punches don’t land.

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