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The movie features a impressive cast, depicting the true story of Irish boxing trainer Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Yorkshire teenager from Middle Eastern migrant parents. Known as Naseem Hamed, the youngster was taught to confront prejudice and transformed into a celebrity titleholder in the late 90s. The trainer nurtured his flamboyant confidence and lethal fists, but after becoming rich, Hamed betrayed his coach, cutting him out and turning him into a mix of Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Pierce Brosnan plays the trainer; Amir El-Masry takes on the role of Hamed, and Toby Stephens is the bullish London promoter Frank Warren, who saw the potential that Ingle had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the film honestly misses the Prince’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes flow well, but the crucial story between them is repeatedly dull and one-note. It lacks subtlety or light and shade in the portrayal of Hamed himself, and the actor, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the opportunity to display any depth or much of what might make his character truly engaging – although he’s clearly been training and appears convincing in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is repeatedly lumbered with utilitarian, explanatory lines that tell you exactly what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your boxing journey at seven years old …”). It is the sort of script that streaming-TV executives call “double-screen”, making sure you understand what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the film but also checking your device. And, the background music is overpowering, sometimes almost overwhelming, particularly in the scene where Hamed gets too excited calling on the promoter in his palatial residence.

Performances and Key Moments

While El-Masry and Brosnan do their very utmost, their dynamic never really ignites, and the major fight scenes are frequently anticlimactically cut short. A key moment 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 box him. Everyone in the room is stunned and uncomfortable. How exactly is this insanely risky confrontation going to unfold? How precisely the outcome? Certainly the Prince is going to kill him? Alternatively will he emotionally hold back? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

That’s not to say that there are no some nice jabs. The actor gets laughs when his character informs a reporter what he’s instructing the kids from his local community: to oppose prejudice and when you encounter a offender, “Punch him in the groin”. It’s funny too when Hamed fidgets at the ridiculous antics Ingle makes him do in the early days: acting like the “monster from the East”.

Plot and Conclusion

Regarding the falling out, the movie depicts this as being exacerbated by a tell-all book that the trainer is supposed to have authored (a plot point evidently modified from prior material), and there is an interestingly imagined final conversation – however the emotional tribute that the boxer is supposed to have paid to Ingle after his death is merely referenced in the end titles, and not shown on film. There is 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 9 January.