🔗 Share this article

This film features a impressive cast, depicting the real-life story of coach Ingle, who guided a cheeky Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern immigrant parents. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to confront prejudice and transformed into a media-friendly titleholder in the late 90s. Ingle cultivated his showboating confidence and powerful punches, but after achieving wealth, the boxer turned against his coach, excluding him and making him a blend of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan portrays the trainer; El-Masry embodies the role of the prince, and Stephens is the bullish promoter Frank Warren, who recognized the potential that the coach had discovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

However, the movie honestly lacks the Prince’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences run smoothly, but the crucial story in between is consistently flat and monotonous. There is no subtlety or light and shade in the depiction of Hamed himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the opportunity to show any depth or much of what might make his character really interesting – even though he’s clearly been training and looks very plausible in the ring.

Dialogue and Music Issues

The story is repeatedly lumbered with utilitarian, explanatory dialogue that inform you exactly what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at seven years old …”). It is the kind of dialogue that digital producers call “double-screen”, ensuring you understand what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the film but also glancing at your device. Additionally, the score is overbearing, sometimes nearly overwhelming, particularly in the scene where Hamed gets too excited visiting Warren in his luxurious home.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

Although the leads do their very best, their dynamic never really ignites, and the major boxing moments are often disappointingly cut short. The most important moment is surely when, goaded beyond endurance in the gym one day by the boxer as a misguided “elder”, the trainer in fact offers to step into the ring and box him. All present in the room is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this extremely risky standoff going to play out? How precisely the outcome? Certainly the champion is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he emotionally hold back? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there are no some nice jabs. The actor gets laughs when Ingle tells a reporter what he’s teaching the kids from his local community: to reject prejudice and when you encounter a paedophile, “Punch him in the groin”. Amusing too when Hamed squirms at the ridiculous stunts the coach makes him do in the early days: acting like the “beast from the East”.

Plot and Conclusion

Regarding the falling out, the movie depicts this as being worsened by a revealing publication that the trainer is supposed to have authored (a plot point clearly adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly conceived final conversation – however the heartfelt homage that the boxer is supposed to have given to his mentor after his death is only referenced in the closing credits, and not shown on film. Some engaging content in this film, but the punches don’t land.

The film screened at the festival and is available in British and Irish cinemas from 9 January.