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The movie boasts a impressive ensemble, depicting the true story of Irish boxing trainer Ingle, who mentored a brash Sheffield youth from Yemeni immigrant family. Known as “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to stand up to prejudice and molded into a celebrity titleholder in the late 90s. The trainer nurtured his showboating arrogance and powerful punches, but after achieving wealth, the boxer turned against his coach, excluding him and making him a blend of Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Brosnan plays the trainer; Amir El-Masry takes on the role of Hamed, and Stephens is the assertive London promoter Warren, who recognized the potential that the coach had uncovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

However, the film frankly lacks the Prince’s agility: the fight scenes run smoothly, but the all-important drama between them is repeatedly dull and monotonous. It lacks nuance or contrast in the portrayal of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, isn’t given the opportunity to display any depth or much of what might make his character truly engaging – even though he’s obviously been working out and looks very plausible in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is repeatedly burdened by utilitarian, expositional dialogue that inform you precisely what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at age seven …”). It is the kind of dialogue that streaming-TV executives call “double-screen”, making sure you know what’s unfolding while you’re watching the movie but also checking your phone. And, the background music is overbearing, sometimes nearly deafening, especially in the moment where the boxer gets too excited visiting Warren in his luxurious residence.

Performances and Key Moments

While the leads do their considerable utmost, their dynamic never really ignites, and the major boxing moments are frequently disappointingly cut short. A key moment is certainly when, goaded beyond endurance in the training facility one day by the boxer as a delusional “old man”, Ingle in fact proposes to step into the ring and box him. All present 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 Prince is going to kill him? Or will he sentimentally hold back? It’s not clear.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there are no some nice jabs. Brosnan gets laughs when his character informs a journalist what he’s instructing the kids from his neighborhood: to reject prejudice and when you encounter a offender, “Hit them in the groin”. Amusing too when Hamed fidgets at the ridiculous stunts the coach makes him do in the beginning: posing as the “monster from the Middle East”.

Plot and Conclusion

Regarding the falling out, the film shows this as being worsened by a revealing book that the trainer is supposed to have written (a story element clearly adapted from prior material), and there is an intriguingly imagined final conversation – however the heartfelt homage that Hamed is supposed to have given to his mentor after his passing is merely mentioned in the end titles, and not shown on film. Some engaging content here, but the punches fail to connect.

Giant was shown at the festival and is in British and Irish cinemas from January 9.