Jeremy Pope Triumphs in Elegance Bratton’s ‘The Inspection’

Stories of the Black gay experience on the silver screen are few and far between. There’s been much success with features such as Moonlight and Pariah, and thanks to writer and director Elegance Bratton, we can add The Inspection to the growing list.

Inspired by a true story, The Inspection centers on Ellis French, a gay Black man living in Trenton, New Jersey, who — after being kicked out by his mother — has been homeless for ten years. Exhausted from living on the streets, he decides to join the Marines. The story appears relatively straightforward, but between the lines in the synopsis is a gut-wrenching tale of hope, resilience, and finding community.

Bratton pours from his own life in this semi-autobiographical debut. Set in 2005, Ellis (Jeremy Pope) arrives at his mother’s house. The door barely cracks, and we’re introduced to a partial view of Inez French (Gabrielle Union), his mother. Ellis needs his birth certificate so he can enlist in the Marines. Inez reluctantly lets him in and rushes to place newspaper on the couch before allowing him to sit down, and we quickly understand the dynamic of this mother/son relationship.

Union is all too convincing as a conflicted mother who both loves and is disgusted by her son. Her hardened demeanor is challenged by the hope visibly evident in Pope. We can feel his desire to one day reconcile their relationship, hoping that the solution for them lies somewhere in the Armed Forces.

When Ellis arrives at boot camp, he’s met by the stereotypical hard-ass Seargent Laws played by industry veteran Bokeem Woodbine. When the rest of the troops discover that Ellis is gay, he endures bullying and mistreatment that almost claims his life. Ultimately, he emerges from boot camp with an unexpected community and a sense of belonging.

Pope’s performance is nothing short of a quiet force. Even without words, he commands attention and evokes sensibility and warmth that hits the pit of your stomach and creates that lump in your throat while watching. Bratton’s filmmaking style and commitment to a personal connection with his characters pairs well with Pope’s muted execution. His ability to slowly amplify the tone of a scene to an emotional brink causes the viewer to invest in the story willingly.

Union’s role as Ellis’ mother is flawless. Once again, we see the magnitude of talent the actor possesses as we watch her facade dissolve in a matter of seconds, switching from a proud mother to a sinister antagonist. Although we only gain access to her for mere moments, each time she appears leaves longstanding impacts on the film that propels it forward.

On the surface, the film may feel a little clichéd, yet one can’t simply rest on that resolve. Here we have a quiet gay Black man enlisting in one of the most hardcore factions of the military. The story being a fictionalized account of Bratton’s own experiences reshapes the argument of the story being reduced to mere tropes since they’re rooted in the reality of his life. In some ways, The Inspection is similar to other films within the military drama genre. However, despite the mistreatment Ellis endures, Bratton infuses more hope than despair into the film.

One of the most beautiful sentiments expressed in the film is that of finding community. Although Ellis is the focus, he’s not the only character facing hardship in the story. Whether it was being Muslim and looking like the “enemy,” living up to family expectations, or being afraid to speak up, many young men had something they were working through. Stories told in this way are essential in showing that individuals in the queer community aren’t any different. They’re not outliers — they’re just one of many trying to navigate their way through life.

We see this so well in Ellis’ metamorphosis. Bratton’s character evolves, but not in the way that one would expect. He doesn’t change or conform. If anything, his enrollment in the service fortifies him, giving him the confidence to double down on who he is while also helping him find a group of people who will accept him as such.

The Inspection shouldn’t fly under the radar during awards season. It’s a showcase for top-tier performances from both Pope and Union and a worthy introduction to Bratton’s storytelling.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars