Film Review – Giant (2025)

      **Giant, 2025.**

      **Written and Directed by Rowan Athale.**

      **Starring:** Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan, Ali Saleh, Ghaith Saleh, Katherine Dow Blyton, Olivia Barrowclough, Elika Ashoori, Austin Haynes, Rocco Haynes, Oliver Joseph Brooke, Arian Nik, Big Jake, Kelvin Ade, and Mehdi Mangoli.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Based on the true story of Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed, a British-Yemeni boxer, "Giant" depicts his rise from modest beginnings to becoming a world champion and his training under Brendan Ingle, who played a pivotal role in his achievements.

      Writer-director Rowan Athale’s "Giant" captures the story of Prince Naseem ‘Naz’ Hamed, a world champion boxer from Sheffield, who was noticed by Irish trainer Brendan Ingle in the 1980s. Despite his natural talent, Naz faced significant abuse due to his Yemeni background. Brendan encouraged him to assert himself, which led to the development of the brash persona that, alongside his evident skill, propelled him to mainstream recognition and multiple world titles.

      As he matures, Naz fully embraces his boxing persona, becoming equally arrogant outside the ring. With immense wealth and success, he begins to question his need for Brendan, ultimately severing ties, which negatively impacts their relationship.

      While "Giant" resembles a typical boxing film, it mainly tells the story of a friendship's rise and decline. Amir El-Masry, previously praised for his role in "Limbo" (2020), excels as Naz, aptly portraying his renowned charisma, while Pierce Brosnan brings a perfect blend of sincerity and humanity to Brendan. Their interactions create several impactful moments, evoking sympathy for Ingle, who poured years into Naz’s training yet has little to show for his dedication.

      However, watching Naz for two hours can be challenging. His boastful demeanor is integral to his character, yet it quickly becomes tiresome for the audience, rendering his character somewhat simplistic. The film seems disinterested in genuinely exploring his perspective. Even though it hints that Brendan may have contributed to creating this "monster" by nurturing him as a child, it fails to fully embrace that complexity. It presents a straightforward hero-vs-villain dichotomy, which could have benefited from more nuance.

      The film also falters in its third act, as it arrives at several logical conclusions but takes too long to reach them. The climactic conversation it builds up to is outstanding—arguably the film's strongest moment—culminating in a powerful narrative twist, but the slow pacing leading up to it risks disengaging the audience.

      "Giant" has its merits. Though it has flaws, these narratives resonate with audiences for a reason. Who doesn’t enjoy a rags-to-riches journey of an underdog who rises to the peak with the support of loved ones and sheer determination? It’s likely to please viewers with its compelling lead performances and memorable boxing scenes when it becomes available for streaming next year. However, it lacks the uniqueness to elevate it above the generic and establish it as a true British classic, leaving one with a sense that there was potential for something more remarkable.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★**

      **Dan Barnes**