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The movie boasts a impressive ensemble, telling the true story of coach Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Sheffield youth from Middle Eastern immigrant parents. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the youngster was taught to confront prejudice and transformed into a celebrity world champion in the late 90s. Ingle nurtured his flamboyant confidence and powerful punches, but after becoming rich, Hamed betrayed his coach, excluding him and turning him into a mix of Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Brosnan portrays Ingle; El-Masry takes on the part of the prince, and Toby Stephens appears as the assertive London promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that Ingle had uncovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

However, the film frankly misses the Prince’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes flow well, but the crucial drama in between is repeatedly dull and monotonous. There is no subtlety or light and shade in the portrayal of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the chance to show any subtlety or much of what might make his character really interesting – even though he’s obviously been working out and looks very plausible in the boxing arena.

Dialogue and Music Issues

The drama is often lumbered with utilitarian, expositional dialogue that tell you precisely what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“Your journey began your career at seven years old …”). It is the kind of script that streaming-TV executives call “second-screen”, making sure you know what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the movie but also checking your device. And, the background music is overpowering, at times almost deafening, especially in the moment where the boxer gets too excited calling on Warren in his luxurious residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their relationship doesn’t quite ignites, and the major boxing moments are frequently anticlimactically truncated. The most important scene is surely when, goaded past his limit in the gym one day by the boxer as a misguided “old man”, the trainer actually offers to get in the ring and box him. Everyone in the room is stunned and uneasy. In what way is this insanely risky confrontation going to play out? What will be the ending? Surely the champion is going to kill him? Or will he sentimentally pull his punches? It’s not clear.

Highlights and Humor

That’s not to say that there are no some good moments. Brosnan gets laughs when Ingle informs a reporter what he’s instructing the kids from his local community: to reject bias and when you encounter a paedophile, “Hit them in the bollocks”. It’s funny too when the boxer fidgets at the ridiculous stunts the coach makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “beast from the East”.

Plot and Conclusion

As for the falling out, the movie shows this as being exacerbated by a tell-all book that the trainer is supposed to have written (a plot point evidently adapted from prior material), and there is an intriguingly imagined final conversation – however the emotional tribute that Hamed is supposed to have paid to his mentor after his passing is merely referenced in the end titles, and not dramatised on film. There is interesting material in this film, but the blows don’t land.

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