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The movie boasts a talented cast, depicting the real-life story of Irish boxing trainer Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Yorkshire youth from Middle Eastern migrant family. Known as “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was coached to confront racist bullies and molded into a celebrity world champion in the late 90s. Ingle nurtured his showboating arrogance and powerful punches, but after achieving wealth, Hamed betrayed his coach, cutting him out and making him a blend of Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

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

Film’s Shortcomings

However, the movie honestly misses the Prince’s fancy footwork: the boxing sequences flow well, but the all-important drama in between is repeatedly flat and one-note. It lacks nuance or light and shade in the depiction of Hamed himself, and El-Masry, an otherwise excellent talent, doesn’t get the chance to show any depth or much of what might make his role truly engaging – even though he’s clearly been training and looks very plausible in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is repeatedly lumbered with utilitarian, expositional lines that inform you precisely what is happening and what we are meant to feel (“Your journey began your career at seven years old …”). This is the kind of script that digital producers call “second-screen”, making sure you understand what’s going on while you’re watching the film but also glancing at your phone. And, the score is overpowering, sometimes nearly deafening, especially in the scene where Hamed gets overexcited visiting the promoter in his palatial home.

Performances and Key Moments

Although El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable utmost, their dynamic doesn’t quite ignites, and the big set-piece fight scenes are frequently disappointingly cut short. The most important moment is certainly when, provoked past his limit in the training facility one day by the boxer as a delusional “elder”, Ingle actually proposes to get in the ring and fight him. All present in the room is shocked and uncomfortable. In what way is this extremely unwise standoff going to play out? What will be the ending? Certainly the Prince is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he emotionally hold back? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some nice jabs. The actor elicits humor when Ingle informs a reporter what he’s teaching the youths from his local community: to oppose prejudice and when you meet a paedophile, “Punch him in the bollocks”. It’s funny too when Hamed squirms at the ridiculous antics the coach makes him do in the early days: acting like the “monster from the Middle East”.

Plot and Conclusion

Regarding the rift, the film shows this as being exacerbated by a revealing publication that the trainer is allegedly authored (a plot point evidently adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly conceived final conversation – although the heartfelt homage that Hamed is supposed to have given to Ingle after his death is merely referenced in the end titles, and not shown on film. Some interesting material here, but the punches don’t land.

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