Red Sea International Film Festival 2025: Giant

Rowan Athale’s Giant enters the crowded boxing biopic arena with a distinctive punch. While ostensibly chronicling the flamboyant rise of “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the film intricately explores the profound, albeit fractured, bond between the boxing prodigy and his unorthodox trainer, Brendan Ingle. The narrative often places Ingle at its affective core, offering a compelling, if unbalanced, look at this pivotal relationship. A cinematic heavyweight, the boxing genre has captivated audiences for decades with classics like Rocky and Raging Bull. These tales of grit and glory, featuring both real and fictional pugilists, resonate deeply, highlighted by the Rocky franchise’s nearly $3 billion box office gross.

The movie chronicles Naz’s journey from a racially prejudiced 1980s Sheffield to a global phenomenon. Under Ingle’s unorthodox tutelage, Naz hones his unique, defiant, showboating persona, turning hostility into ambition. His physical prowess and deep confidence lead to transatlantic success. However, escalating fame and wealth breed arrogance, straining and severing his profound bond with his mentor. Athale, directing with an energetic yet unflashy hand, pivots the narrative on this surrogate father-son dynamic, illustrating the heavy toll of ambition and conflicting loyalties. The feature’s opening, an unashamed homage to Raging Bull, sets a visceral tone, immersing us in the raw world of boxing.

Amir El-Masry delivers a superb, transformative performance, embodying Naz’s electrifying charm, distinct style, and signature “screw-you” cockiness with remarkable dynamism. His physical transformation and dedication to portraying the boxing legend are particularly notable, even enduring a dislocated finger on set – a moment that vividly underscored his deep connection with co-star Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan, in turn, provides a genially charismatic, deeply human portrayal of Ingle, capturing his dedication, wit, and personal investment, bringing vital grativas and elevating the character to a profoundly sympathetic figure. The leads’ chemistry is a consistent highlight: poignant moments, like the climactic dialogue where tensions erupt, or Ingle’s subtle pre-fight touch, powerfully convey the full dramatic impact and impending rupture of their relationship, illustrating how minimal gestures reveal complex inner dramas.

While Giant embraces classic boxing tropes – with Sylvester Stallone, the iconic Rocky himself, serving as executive producer – its narrative can feel schematic, limiting exploration of the main subject’s deeper complexities. The script occasionally struggles with third-act pacing and actively sidelines Naz’s personal story for Ingle’s perspective. This approach, while fresh, leaves certain aspects of Naz’s life underdeveloped. However, Athale employs a clever narrative device in the climax, which, though frustrating for some, intelligently brings the film’s core conflicts to the forefront.

Despite structural imperfections and CGI that, while not exceptional, is generally adequate and does not diminish the experience, Giant remains a mostly compelling watch. It is a story of perseverance, identity, and the intricate dance between mentor and protégé. While perhaps not entirely transcending the genre, the movie offers engaging lead performances and a heartfelt narrative about a pivotal, if tumultuous, relationship in boxing history.

Laura Della Corte

Giant is released nationwide on 9^th January 2026.

Watch the trailer for Giant here: