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

The movie features a impressive ensemble, depicting the real-life tale of Irish boxing trainer Ingle, who guided a cheeky Yorkshire teenager from Yemeni migrant parents. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the youngster was taught to confront prejudice and molded into a celebrity titleholder in the 1990s. The trainer nurtured his flamboyant confidence and powerful punches, but after achieving wealth, Hamed turned against his mentor, excluding him and making him a mix of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Pierce Brosnan plays Ingle; Amir El-Masry takes on the part of Hamed, and Stephens is the assertive promoter Warren, who saw the potential that the coach had discovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the film honestly misses the fighter’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes run smoothly, but the all-important story in between is repeatedly dull and monotonous. There is no nuance or light and shade in the portrayal of Hamed himself, and the actor, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the chance to display any subtlety or much of what might make his role really interesting – even though he’s obviously been training and looks very plausible in the boxing arena.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is often burdened by utilitarian, explanatory dialogue that tell 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 producers call “second-screen”, making sure you understand what’s going on while you’re viewing the movie but also glancing at your device. And, the background music is overbearing, at times almost deafening, particularly in the moment where the boxer gets overexcited calling on the promoter in his palatial home.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While the leads do their very utmost, their dynamic never really comes to life, and the big set-piece boxing moments are frequently anticlimactically cut short. The most important moment is surely when, provoked past his limit in the training facility one day by Hamed as a misguided “elder”, the trainer in fact proposes to step into the ring and fight him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uneasy. In what way is this extremely risky standoff going to play out? How precisely the ending? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he emotionally hold back? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there are no some good moments. The actor elicits humor when Ingle informs a journalist what he’s teaching the youths from his local community: to oppose prejudice and when you meet a offender, “Punch him 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 East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the rift, the movie depicts this as being exacerbated by a tell-all publication that Ingle is supposed to have written (a story element clearly adapted from another source), and there is an intriguingly conceived last discussion – however the emotional tribute that the boxer is reportedly paid to his mentor after his passing is only mentioned in the end titles, and not shown on film. Some interesting material here, but the blows don’t land.

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