Giant Film Analysis: Prince Naseem Movie Starring Brosnan Misses the Punch

The movie boasts a talented ensemble, depicting the real-life tale of coach Ingle, who guided a brash Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern immigrant parents. Dubbed Naseem Hamed, the youngster was coached to stand up to racist bullies and transformed into a media-friendly titleholder in the 1990s. The trainer nurtured his flamboyant confidence and powerful punches, but after achieving wealth, the boxer betrayed his coach, cutting him out and making him a mix of Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Brosnan plays Ingle; Amir El-Masry takes on the role of Hamed, and Toby Stephens appears as the bullish promoter Warren, who saw the goldmine that Ingle had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

Yet, the film honestly lacks the Prince’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes flow well, but the crucial drama in between is consistently dull and monotonous. It lacks subtlety or light and shade in the portrayal of Hamed himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise excellent talent, isn’t given the chance to show any subtlety or much of what might make his character really interesting – although he’s obviously been working out and appears convincing in the ring.

Dialogue and Music Issues

The story is repeatedly lumbered with utilitarian, explanatory lines that tell you exactly what is happening and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at age seven …”). It is the sort of dialogue that digital executives call “second-screen”, making sure you understand what’s going on while you’re viewing the film but also glancing at your phone. Additionally, the score is overpowering, sometimes nearly deafening, especially in the moment where Hamed gets too excited calling on the promoter in his luxurious home.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While El-Masry and Brosnan do their very best, their relationship doesn’t quite comes to life, and the major fight scenes are often disappointingly truncated. A key moment is certainly when, goaded beyond endurance in the gym one day by Hamed as a misguided “old man”, Ingle in fact proposes to step into the ring and box him. Everyone in the gym is shocked and uneasy. In what way is this extremely risky confrontation going to play out? What will be the outcome? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Or will he sentimentally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Bright Spots and Comedy

That’s not to say that there aren’t some nice jabs. The actor elicits humor when Ingle tells a reporter what he’s instructing the youths from his local community: to reject prejudice and when you encounter a offender, “Punch him in the groin”. Amusing too when Hamed squirms at the silly antics the coach makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “beast from the East”.

Plot and Conclusion

Regarding the rift, the film shows this as being worsened by a revealing publication that the trainer is supposed to have authored (a story element clearly modified from prior material), and there is an intriguingly conceived final conversation – although the emotional tribute that the boxer is reportedly paid to his mentor after his death is merely mentioned in the end titles, and not shown on screen. There is engaging content in this film, but the blows don’t land.

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