🔗 Share this article

This film features a impressive cast, depicting the true tale of coach Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Sheffield teenager from Yemeni immigrant parents. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the youngster was taught to confront racist bullies and molded into a media-friendly titleholder in the late 90s. The trainer nurtured his flamboyant arrogance and powerful punches, but after becoming rich, the boxer turned against his coach, excluding him and making him a blend of Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Pierce Brosnan portrays Ingle; Amir El-Masry embodies the part of Hamed, and Stephens appears as the assertive promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that Ingle had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

However, the movie honestly lacks the fighter’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes flow well, but the all-important story in between is repeatedly dull and monotonous. It lacks nuance or contrast in the depiction of Hamed himself, and the actor, an otherwise excellent talent, isn’t given the opportunity to display any depth or much of what might make his character really interesting – although he’s clearly been training and looks very plausible in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is repeatedly lumbered with functional, explanatory lines that inform you precisely what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“You started your boxing journey at seven years old …”). It is the kind of script that digital producers call “double-screen”, making sure you understand what’s going on while you’re viewing the film but also glancing at your phone. Additionally, the background music is overpowering, sometimes almost overwhelming, especially in the moment where Hamed gets overexcited calling on the promoter in his palatial residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While the leads do their considerable utmost, their relationship never really comes to life, and the major fight scenes are frequently disappointingly truncated. A key moment is certainly when, provoked beyond endurance in the gym one day by Hamed as a misguided “elder”, Ingle actually proposes to step into the ring and fight him. All present in the room is stunned and uncomfortable. In what way is this extremely unwise standoff going to unfold? How precisely the outcome? Surely the champion is going to kill him? Alternatively will he sentimentally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Bright Spots and Comedy

This isn’t to imply that there are no some nice jabs. Brosnan elicits humor when his character informs a journalist what he’s teaching the kids from his local community: to reject bias and when you encounter a paedophile, “Hit them in the groin”. It’s funny too when Hamed squirms at the silly stunts Ingle makes him do in the early days: posing as the “monster from the East”.

Plot and Conclusion

As for the falling out, the film depicts this as being exacerbated by a revealing book that Ingle is allegedly authored (a story element clearly modified from prior material), and there is an intriguingly imagined final conversation – however the emotional tribute that Hamed is reportedly given to his mentor after his death is only referenced in the end titles, and not shown on film. There is engaging content in this film, but the punches fail to connect.

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