Giant Review: Prince Naseem Movie Featuring Pierce Brosnan Misses the Punch

The movie features a talented cast, telling the real-life story of coach Brendan Ingle, who guided a brash Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern immigrant parents. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was taught to confront racist bullies and molded into a celebrity titleholder in the late 90s. The trainer cultivated 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

Brosnan portrays Ingle; El-Masry takes on the part of Hamed, and Stephens appears as the bullish promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that the coach had discovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

Yet, the movie frankly misses the Prince’s agility: the fight scenes run smoothly, but the all-important drama between them is repeatedly flat and monotonous. There is no subtlety or contrast in the depiction of Hamed himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, isn’t given the opportunity to show any depth or much of what might make his role really interesting – although he’s clearly been working out and appears convincing in the ring.

Dialogue and Music Issues

The drama is repeatedly burdened by utilitarian, expositional dialogue that inform you exactly what is happening and what we are meant to feel (“Your journey began your boxing journey at age seven …”). It is the sort of dialogue that digital producers call “double-screen”, ensuring you know what’s unfolding while you’re watching the film but also checking your phone. Additionally, the score is overbearing, sometimes almost deafening, particularly in the moment where the boxer gets overexcited visiting Warren in his palatial residence.

Performances and Key Moments

Although the leads do their very best, their dynamic never really comes to life, and the major boxing moments are frequently disappointingly cut short. A key moment is certainly when, provoked past his limit in the training facility one day by the boxer as a delusional “old man”, Ingle in fact proposes to step into the ring and fight him. Everyone in the room is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this insanely unwise confrontation going to unfold? How precisely the outcome? Certainly the champion is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he sentimentally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

That’s not to say that there are no some good moments. Brosnan gets laughs when his character tells a journalist what he’s teaching the kids from his neighborhood: to oppose prejudice and when you meet a offender, “Punch him in the bollocks”. It’s funny too when Hamed squirms at the ridiculous antics the coach makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “beast from the East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the rift, the film depicts this as being worsened by a revealing book that the trainer is allegedly authored (a plot point evidently adapted from another source), and there is an interestingly conceived last discussion – however the emotional tribute that Hamed is reportedly given to his mentor after his passing is only mentioned in the closing credits, and not dramatised on screen. There is engaging content in this film, but the punches don’t land.

The film screened at the London film festival and is in British and Irish theaters from 9 January.