The Giant Review: Naseem Hamed Biopic Starring Pierce Brosnan Misses the Punch

The movie features a talented ensemble, telling the real-life tale of coach Brendan Ingle, who guided a brash Yorkshire teenager from Middle Eastern migrant parents. Known as Naseem Hamed, the youngster was coached to stand up to prejudice and transformed into a media-friendly titleholder in the late 90s. Ingle cultivated his showboating confidence and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, Hamed turned against his mentor, cutting him out and making him a mix of Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan plays the trainer; El-Masry embodies the part of the prince, and Stephens appears as the assertive promoter Warren, who saw the potential that the coach had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the film frankly misses the fighter’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences run smoothly, but the all-important drama in between is repeatedly flat and monotonous. There is no subtlety or light and shade in the depiction of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, isn’t given the chance to show any depth or much of what might make his character really interesting – even though he’s clearly been working out and appears convincing in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is repeatedly burdened by utilitarian, explanatory lines that inform you exactly what is happening and what we are meant to feel (“Your journey began your boxing journey at seven years old …”). This is the kind of dialogue that digital producers call “second-screen”, making sure you understand what’s unfolding while you’re watching the film but also checking your phone. And, the background music is overbearing, at times nearly deafening, especially in the scene where the boxer gets too excited visiting Warren in his palatial home.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their dynamic doesn’t quite ignites, and the big set-piece boxing moments are often anticlimactically cut short. A key moment is surely when, provoked beyond endurance in the gym one day by the boxer as a delusional “elder”, the trainer in fact offers to step into the ring and box him. Everyone in the gym is stunned and uneasy. In what way is this insanely unwise confrontation going to unfold? What will be the ending? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Or will he emotionally hold back? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there are no some good moments. Brosnan elicits humor when his character informs a journalist what he’s teaching the kids from his local community: to reject prejudice and when you meet a paedophile, “Punch him in the groin”. Amusing too when Hamed fidgets at the ridiculous stunts the coach makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “monster from the East”.

Plot and Conclusion

As for the falling out, the movie shows this as being worsened by a revealing book that Ingle is allegedly authored (a plot point clearly modified from another source), and there is an intriguingly imagined final conversation – however the heartfelt homage that the boxer is reportedly given to his mentor after his passing is merely referenced in the closing credits, and not shown on screen. Some interesting material here, but the punches fail to connect.

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