The Inspection is a film written and directed by Elegance Bratton.

Story

The story follows a young, gay Black man, Ellis French. His life is in limbo, as he was rejected by his mother, and has been on his own since the age of 16. Desperate to find a sense of purpose and belonging, he joins the Marines. There, he continues to face rejection and hurt during boot camp, but also camaraderie and support.

Acting

The standout actors would definitely be Jeremy Pope, who played Ellis French, and Gabrielle Union who played Inez French. Pope brought so much emotion, strength and humor to his role. Also, despite Union having a lot less screentime compared to other cast members, her role was really impactful. Seeing the two interact was really moving and beautiful. Likewise, Bokeem Woodbine as Leland Laws was also really good.

Visuals

The film features a muted color palette. It is very visceral, and it doesn’t hold anything back. Visually, it felt very cold, which coincided with the film’s themes and the emotions that French was experiencing.

Overall

The Inspection had me engaged from beginning to end. It felt very real and authentic. Despite the story being so raw and personal, it has moments of humor that lighten the heaviness of the story. Although I personally don’t care for military stories, this film is a lot more than a story about the military, and I definitely would recommend watching it.

The Inspection releases November 18.