Prince Naseem Hamed is being given the biopic treatment, with his rise to fame in the boxing ring as one of Britain’s great athletes brought to life onscreen in Giant.
The rags-to-riches story sees Amir El-Masry portray the Sheffield-born boxing champion and Pierce Brosnan as his coach, Brendan Ingle. Ahead of its release in UK cinemas on Friday, 9 January, critics have shared their thoughts on the film and its portrayal of the two men’s lives.
Here is what you need to know about whether it is worth watching.
What is Giant about?
Giant tells the story of boxing champion Prince Naseem Hamed and his coach Brendan Ingle. (TrueBrit)
Irish boxing coach Brendan Ingle is dedicated to giving back to his community by helping young boys and men discover their purpose and reach their full potential in the boxing ring. When young Naseem “Naz” Hamed enters his gym, Ingle knows he is destined for greatness and takes the boy under his wing.
With Ingle’s training and Hamed’s raw talent for the sport, they become a dream team that catapults the boxer to greatness. However, with increased wealth and fame, tensions begin to rise between the once-tight-knit pair, pushing them to their limits.
What critics liked
Amir El-Masry’s performance as Prince Naseem was a highlight for critics. (TrueBrit)
Variety critic Murtada Elfadl was delighted by the acting, particularly lead El-Masry, who, he said, “brings bravado and gumption to his performance that belies Hamed’s reputation as a cocky opponent in the ring and a big talker who goads his opponents outside of it.”
The critic adds: “He is natural in the boxing scenes and nails the smooth dance-like movements and especially the fluid footwork Hamed is known for. However, the film doesn’t give him much dramatic conflict. It saves that for Brosnan, who has a lot more to play with.”
Pierce Brosnan, Amir El-Masry, Prince Naseem Hamed, Ghaith Saleh and Ali Saleh attending the Giant UK Gala Screening, Picturehouse Central.(Alamy Live News)
The Irish Times critic Donald Clark also celebrated the performances onscreen, writing that El-Masry “has bulked up impressively to get as close as a mere actor could get to Naseem’s taut, tense torso”, adding: “He does better still in marshalling Hamed’s sub-hip-hop banter.
“Brosnan is, well, Brosnan: charming, sweet, crafty, never fully in control of an accent that veers from deepest Dublin all the way across the Irish Sea in the space of a single clause.”
ScreenDaily‘s Jonathan Romney described the film as an “unpretentious, somewhat generic venture” that is improved upon by Brosnan’s presence and his “genially charismatic performance”.
What critics didn’t like
Giant has a muddled focus which makes it less compelling. (TrueBrit)
For The Guardian‘s Peter Bradshaw, the film was a swing and a miss, saying: “The movie frankly lacks the Prince’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences run smoothly, but the all-important drama between them is repeatedly flat and one-note.
“There is no nuance or light and shade in the depiction of Hamed himself, and that otherwise outstanding performer El-Masry isn’t given the chance to show any subtlety or much of what might make his character really interesting – although he’s clearly been training and looks very plausible in the ring.”
Prince Naseem Hamed v Enrique Angeles in 1995, at the height of the boxer’s fame. (PA)
The Irish Independent’s Chris Wasser gave the film just two stars, writing: “The problems begin on the page. It’s as if Athale hasn’t yet decided which avenue to pursue: that of the British-Yemeni fighter who defied racist bullies to become the biggest sensation in 1990s boxing, or the loveable Irish coach who lived vicariously through his spirited champs.
Committing halfway to both does nobody any favours, and ÂGiant is too broad, too cartoonish, and talks too much without ever really finding its voice.”
Is it worth watching? (Photo illustration: Yahoo Entertainment UK)
This was a sentiment felt by Variety critic Murtada Elfadl lamented the fact that the film is “more interested in his coach” than it is about Prince Naseem, even if it follows “the well-trodden path of the sports biopic”.
Even so, Elfadl said: “While far from being a knockout, the film lands enough solid punches to leave a mark.”
The Irish Times’ Donald Clarke also wrote how the story “is clunkier in its plotting and more at home to drearily expository dialogue” which is to it’s detriment: “We are forever having the jeopardy explained. We are forever having racial tensions clarified… Still, the core (largely true) story is just about strong enough to keep the film on its feet through all 12 rounds.”
What I think of Giant
Giant is a by-the-numbers sports biopic. (TrueBrit)
Giant is a boxing biopic that will be very familiar to fans of the genre who have seen similar films before. From the early discovery to the years of training to the wins in the ring and ultimate fame, the narrative follows familiar beats that make it unsurprising. The decision to focus more on Brendan Ingle than Prince Naseem also feels like an odd choice, when the boxer’s defiance against the racism he experienced is quite compelling.
Yes, it’s fair to explore the rift between the pair as Prince Naseem’s star rose, but the film places so much focus on Ingle in these moments that it feels like his movie, rather than the sportsman’s. Amir El-Masry is a delight in the lead role, while Brosnan delivers a gentle and compelling performance that just about holds it all together.
Is Giant worth watching?
If you’re interested in Prince Naseem’s rise to fame, then Giant is for you, but the movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel or stand out in the sports genre. That’s not to say it isn’t worth watching in general; the film is perfectly watchable, it just isn’t all that memorable.
Which, given Prince Naseem’s place in the pantheon of British sports excellence, feels like a hit and a miss.
Giant premieres in UK cinemas on Friday, 9 January.