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This film boasts a talented cast, depicting the true story of coach Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Sheffield youth from Middle Eastern migrant parents. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the fighter was taught to confront prejudice and molded into a celebrity titleholder in the late 90s. The trainer nurtured his showboating arrogance and powerful punches, but after achieving wealth, Hamed turned against his coach, cutting him out and turning him into a blend of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Pierce Brosnan plays Ingle; Amir El-Masry embodies the part of the prince, and Toby Stephens is the assertive London promoter Frank Warren, who saw the potential that the coach had discovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

However, the film frankly misses the fighter’s agility: the fight scenes run smoothly, but the crucial drama between them is consistently dull and monotonous. There is no nuance or contrast in the portrayal of Hamed himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise outstanding performer, doesn’t get the opportunity to display any subtlety or much of what might make his role really interesting – even though he’s clearly been working out and looks very plausible in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is often burdened by utilitarian, explanatory lines 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 digital producers call “double-screen”, making sure you understand what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the film but also checking your phone. Additionally, the score is overpowering, sometimes almost deafening, particularly in the moment where Hamed gets too excited calling on the promoter in his luxurious home.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While the leads do their very utmost, their dynamic never really ignites, and the big set-piece fight scenes are frequently anticlimactically cut short. The most important moment is surely when, provoked past his limit in the training facility one day by the boxer as a delusional “old man”, the trainer in fact proposes to step into the ring and fight him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this extremely unwise confrontation going to unfold? What will be the outcome? Certainly the Prince is going to defeat 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 good moments. Brosnan elicits humor when his character informs a journalist what he’s instructing the youths from his local community: to oppose prejudice and when you encounter a paedophile, “Punch him in the bollocks”. It’s funny too when Hamed fidgets at the ridiculous antics the coach makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “beast from the East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the falling out, the movie shows this as being exacerbated by a revealing publication that the trainer is allegedly authored (a story element evidently adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly conceived last discussion – however the heartfelt homage that the boxer is supposed to have given to Ingle after his death is merely mentioned in the end titles, and not shown on screen. There is interesting material in this film, but the punches fail to connect.

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