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The movie features a talented ensemble, telling the real-life story of Irish boxing trainer Ingle, who mentored a brash Sheffield youth from Middle Eastern migrant family. Known as Naseem Hamed, the fighter was taught to stand up to prejudice and transformed into a celebrity titleholder in the late 90s. Ingle nurtured his showboating confidence and powerful punches, but after becoming rich, Hamed betrayed his mentor, excluding him and turning him into a blend of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

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

Film’s Shortcomings

However, the movie frankly misses the Prince’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences run smoothly, but the crucial drama in between is repeatedly flat and monotonous. There is no nuance or light and shade in the portrayal of Hamed himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the chance to display any subtlety or much of what might make his character truly engaging – although he’s obviously been working out and appears convincing in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is repeatedly burdened by functional, expositional lines that tell you exactly what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“You started your boxing journey at seven years old …”). This is the sort of dialogue that streaming-TV executives call “double-screen”, ensuring you know what’s going on while you’re watching the movie but also checking your device. Additionally, the background music is overbearing, at times nearly overwhelming, especially in the moment where Hamed gets too excited calling on the promoter in his luxurious residence.

Performances and Key Moments

While El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their dynamic never really comes to life, and the major boxing moments are often disappointingly cut short. The most important scene is certainly when, provoked past his limit in the gym one day by Hamed as a delusional “old man”, the trainer actually proposes to step into the ring and fight him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this insanely unwise standoff going to play out? What will be the outcome? Surely the champion 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 are no some nice jabs. Brosnan elicits humor when Ingle informs a journalist what he’s teaching the youths from his neighborhood: to oppose bias and when you meet a offender, “Hit them in the groin”. Amusing too when the boxer squirms at the ridiculous stunts the coach makes him do in the early days: acting like the “beast from the Middle East”.

Plot and Conclusion

As for the rift, the film depicts this as being worsened by a revealing publication that Ingle is allegedly authored (a story element clearly adapted from prior material), and there is an intriguingly conceived last discussion – however the heartfelt homage that Hamed is reportedly given to Ingle after his death is merely mentioned in the closing credits, and not dramatised on screen. Some interesting material in this film, but the punches fail to connect.

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