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This film features a talented ensemble, depicting the real-life tale of Irish boxing trainer Ingle, who mentored a brash Yorkshire teenager from Yemeni migrant parents. Known as Naseem Hamed, the youngster was taught to confront prejudice and molded into a media-friendly world champion in the late 90s. The trainer cultivated his flamboyant arrogance and powerful punches, but after achieving wealth, the boxer betrayed his coach, excluding him and making him a mix of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan plays Ingle; Amir El-Masry embodies the part of Hamed, and Stephens appears as the bullish promoter Warren, who saw the potential that Ingle had discovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

However, the movie frankly misses the fighter’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes flow well, but the all-important drama in between is consistently flat and one-note. There is no subtlety or contrast in the portrayal 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 role really interesting – although he’s clearly been training and appears convincing in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is repeatedly lumbered with utilitarian, expositional lines that inform you precisely what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at seven years old …”). It is the sort of script that digital executives call “double-screen”, making sure you understand what’s going on while you’re viewing the film but also glancing at your phone. And, the score is overpowering, at times almost overwhelming, especially in the moment where Hamed gets overexcited visiting Warren in his luxurious home.

Performances and Key Moments

Although the leads do their considerable utmost, their relationship never really ignites, and the major fight scenes are often disappointingly cut short. A key moment is certainly when, provoked past his limit in the gym one day by Hamed as a misguided “old man”, the trainer actually offers to get in the ring and fight him. Everyone in the gym is stunned and uncomfortable. How exactly is this extremely risky standoff going to unfold? What will be the ending? Surely the Prince is going to kill him? Alternatively will he emotionally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

That’s not to say that there aren’t some nice jabs. The actor gets laughs when his character informs a reporter what he’s instructing the kids from his neighborhood: to oppose prejudice and when you encounter a paedophile, “Hit them in the groin”. It’s funny too when the boxer squirms at the ridiculous stunts Ingle makes him do in the early days: acting like the “monster from the Middle East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

Regarding the rift, the film depicts this as being exacerbated by a revealing book that Ingle is allegedly authored (a story element clearly adapted from another source), and there is an intriguingly imagined last discussion – however the heartfelt homage that Hamed is supposed to have paid to his mentor after his passing is only referenced in the closing credits, and not shown on film. Some interesting material in this film, but the punches fail to connect.

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