“Giant” Review: A Missed Knockout in the Ingle-Hamed Story
“Giant,” the new biopic charting the complex relationship between boxing trainer brendan ingle and his protégé, Prince Naseem Hamed, arrives with considerable anticipation. Starring Pierce Brosnan as Ingle and Amir El-Masry as Hamed, the film promises a deep dive into a legendary partnership. Unfortunately, it largely delivers a frustratingly surface-level account of a truly captivating story.
The film meticulously recreates the physical aspects of the boxing world.El-Masry clearly dedicated himself to the physicality of the role, appearing convincingly as a fighter in peak condition. However, this dedication to the look of boxing doesn’t translate into a compelling exploration of the psychology behind it.
A Story Told, Not Felt
One of the film’s biggest weaknesses is its reliance on exposition. Dialog frequently feels functional, simply telling you information rather than showing it. You’re informed of Hamed’s early start in boxing at age seven, for example, rather of experiencing the formative moments that shaped him. This “double-screen” dialogue,as it’s often called in streaming circles,feels designed for distracted viewing,sacrificing nuance for clarity.
The soundtrack further contributes to this lack of subtlety.Overbearing music, particularly during emotionally charged scenes, actively undermines the potential for genuine feeling. the scene where Hamed visits Ingle’s opulent home is a prime example, with the score nearly drowning out the interaction.
A Relationship That Never Truly Connects
Despite the talents of Brosnan and El-Masry, the core relationship between Ingle and Hamed feels strangely distant. Their dynamic, crucial to understanding Hamed’s meteoric rise and eventual fall, never fully ignites on screen. Key boxing sequences, moments ripe with tension and potential drama, are frequently enough cut short, leaving you wanting more.
Consider the pivotal scene where Ingle, provoked by Hamed, steps into the ring to spar with him. the setup is electric: a veteran trainer challenging his star pupil. Yet, the film doesn’t fully commit to the moment, leaving the outcome ambiguous and the emotional impact muted.
Glimmers of Brilliance
“Giant” isn’t without its merits. Brosnan delivers some genuinely funny lines, particularly Ingle’s blunt advice to young trainees: reject prejudice and, when encountering a paedophile, “Punch him in the bollocks.” these moments offer a welcome dose of levity.
Hamed’s discomfort with Ingle’s early attempts to market him as the “beast from the Middle East” also provides a compelling glimpse into the pressures he faced. These small jabs of insight hint at the richer story that could have been.
A Modified History
The film attributes a significant portion of the Ingle-Hamed fallout to a tell-all book supposedly written by Ingle. This plot point is a departure from accounts detailed in Nick Pitt’s “The paddy and the Prince,” adding a layer of fictionalization to an already complex narrative. While the final conversation between the two men is interestingly imagined,the film frustratingly mentions Hamed’s post-death tribute to Ingle rather than showing it.
Ultimately, “Giant” feels like a collection of interesting material that never quite coalesces into a truly impactful film. The punches don’t quite land,leaving you with a sense of unfulfilled potential.
“Giant” screened at the London Film Festival and is in UK and Irish cinemas from January 9th.
Further Reading:
* All our London Film Festival 2025 coverage
* The Guardian on the ingle-Hamed story
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