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This film features a talented ensemble, depicting the true story of coach Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Sheffield youth from Yemeni immigrant family. Known as “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to stand up to prejudice and transformed into a media-friendly world champion in the late 90s. The trainer cultivated his showboating confidence and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, the boxer turned against his coach, excluding him and turning him into a blend of John Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Brosnan portrays the trainer; Amir El-Masry takes on the role of Hamed, and Stephens is the bullish promoter Warren, who recognized the potential that the coach had uncovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

Yet, the film frankly misses the Prince’s agility: the fight scenes run smoothly, but the all-important drama between them is repeatedly dull and one-note. It lacks nuance or contrast in the depiction of Hamed himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, isn’t given the chance to display any depth or much of what might make his character truly engaging – even though he’s obviously been working out and looks very plausible in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is repeatedly burdened by functional, expositional dialogue that inform you precisely what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at age seven …”). It is the kind of script that digital producers call “double-screen”, ensuring you know what’s unfolding while you’re watching the movie but also checking your phone. Additionally, the score is overpowering, at times nearly deafening, especially in the scene where Hamed gets too excited calling on the promoter in his luxurious residence.

Performances and Key Moments

Although the leads do their considerable best, their relationship never really ignites, and the big set-piece boxing moments are often disappointingly truncated. A key moment is surely when, provoked past his limit in the gym one day by the boxer as a delusional “old man”, Ingle in fact offers to step into the ring and fight him. All present in the gym is shocked and uneasy. How exactly is this insanely risky standoff going to unfold? What will be the ending? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Or will he emotionally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Bright Spots and Comedy

That’s not to say that there aren’t some good moments. Brosnan elicits humor when Ingle informs a reporter what he’s teaching the youths from his neighborhood: to oppose prejudice and when you encounter a offender, “Punch him in the bollocks”. Amusing too when the boxer 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 rift, the movie shows this as being worsened by a tell-all book that Ingle is supposed to have authored (a plot point evidently modified from another source), and there is an interestingly imagined final conversation – although the heartfelt homage that Hamed is reportedly paid to Ingle after his death is only referenced in the closing credits, and not shown on screen. Some engaging content here, but the blows don’t land.

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