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This film features a talented cast, depicting the true tale of coach Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Yorkshire youth from Yemeni immigrant family. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the youngster was coached to confront prejudice and molded into a media-friendly world champion in the late 90s. Ingle cultivated his showboating arrogance and lethal fists, but after becoming rich, Hamed turned against his coach, cutting him out and making him a mix of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan plays the trainer; Amir El-Masry takes on the part of Hamed, and Toby Stephens appears as the assertive promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that the coach had discovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

However, the film frankly lacks the Prince’s agility: the boxing sequences flow well, but the crucial drama in between is consistently flat and one-note. There is no nuance or light and shade in the depiction of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise excellent talent, isn’t given the opportunity to display any subtlety or much of what might make his character truly engaging – although he’s obviously been training and appears convincing in the ring.

Dialogue and Music Issues

The story is repeatedly lumbered with functional, explanatory lines that tell you precisely what is going on and what we are meant to feel (“Your journey began your career at age seven …”). It is the kind of script that streaming-TV executives call “second-screen”, ensuring you understand what’s unfolding while you’re watching the film but also checking your device. And, the background music is overbearing, sometimes almost overwhelming, especially in the scene where Hamed gets too excited visiting Warren in his luxurious residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their dynamic never really ignites, and the major boxing moments are often disappointingly truncated. A key moment is certainly when, goaded past his limit in the training facility one day by the boxer as a misguided “old man”, Ingle in fact offers to step into the ring and box him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uneasy. In what way is this insanely risky standoff going to play out? How precisely the ending? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Or will he emotionally 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 Ingle tells a journalist what he’s teaching the youths from his local community: to reject prejudice and when you meet a offender, “Punch him in the groin”. It’s funny too when the boxer fidgets at the silly antics Ingle makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “monster from the Middle East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the falling out, the film depicts this as being worsened by a revealing book that the trainer is supposed to have authored (a story element clearly adapted from another source), and there is an interestingly conceived final conversation – however the heartfelt homage that the boxer is supposed to have paid to Ingle after his death is merely referenced in the closing credits, and not shown on screen. Some engaging content here, but the punches don’t land.

The film was shown at the London film festival and is in UK and Irish cinemas from 9 January.