Review: The Inspection

Directed by: Elegance Bratton

Written by: Elegance Bratton

Starring: Jeremy Pope, Raúl Castillo, McCaul Lombardi, Aaron Dominguez, Nicholas Logan

Rating: [3.5/5]

No matter the achievements accomplished, certain dealbreakers exist in the connectivity individuals will have with one another. These dealbreakers can stem from elements an individual can change of themselves, or, in the case of The Inspection, it lies in one’s unalterable sexual orientation. Despite the struggles this film conveys, it also displays a beautiful tale of resilience. 

Homeless and barely able to make it by, Ellis (Jeremy Pope) decides he needs to make something of his life and decides to enlist with the United States Marine Corp. As he arrives at his first boot camp, he experiences the harshness of the drill sergeants and their methods to break in these recruits. However, things become further complicated as his sexuality becomes an issue and the blatant homophobia within the unit becomes clear. 

The perils enlisted folks in the military experience while in boot camp have been well-cataloged in film over the years. Who could ever forget Full Metal Jacket and the horrific experience of those newbies from drill instructor Gunnery? On the surface, it displays a level of hazing crossing beyond the lines of cruelty, but those within the system would argue this initiation ensures these soldiers reach their heights for their service for the country. Many debates have raged on about these conditions, but The Inspection adds the layer of Ellis endangering himself if he dares exhibit his attraction to men. 

With a bunker full of men, the experience of Ellis exposes the environment that dominates these boot camps and how much strict masculinity dictates much of the expectation for these men. They need to display strength and discipline and do away with any and all emotion in the process. Part of that, without needing to be said, comes with sexuality and the general expectation of these men only having attraction for women. Ellis does not fit the definition of masculinity given the framework of this boot camp, which puts him in physical danger should it be made known amongst his fellow servicemembers. 

While Ellis must contend with this in the boot camp, the emotional current of this film lies in his relationship with his mother. As it becomes apparent as the film goes on, he faces an embattled relationship with his mother because of her religious objections to her son’s sexual orientation. Even with the accomplishments he achieves that would make any parent proud, these unchangeable elements continue to hold him back. Ellis, therefore, has a choice to make in how much more he will give in maintaining a relationship that will forever remain a one-way street. This particular component carries much of the power of resilience this film imbues throughout its entire runtime as Ellis continues to fight against the prejudices of others and stands up as the bigger person. 

Elegance Bratton, who wrote and directed this film, brought forth this story from his own experience, making it all the more impactful. To tell a story filled with so much pain and honesty in the way he viewed himself and those around him makes this such a personal and moving story to see play out. With this as his feature-directorial debut, he certainly makes quite the impression with the directorial flourishes he utilizes to get into the headspace of Ellis along with capturing the harshness of life in the boot camp. He has proven he has a bright future ahead of himself as a filmmaker, and in shining a light on himself, he does the same for the actor he chooses to play the role of Ellis. To carry us through this journey, Bratton elected Jeremy Pope to go through this journey, and he does a splendid job. Just now breaking into the feature film world, Pope garners all of the sympathy for this character as he goes through this particularly treacherous moment in his life, both physically and emotionally. 

Soundly put together and hitting all of the right emotional beats, The Inspection highlights a reality young enlisted individuals in the military have endured for so long. This film not only highlights the difficulty for these young men but also how a gay man will inevitably face an even more challenging time. Even with all of the difficulty, Ellis’s story never fails to inspire, and how he overcomes it all is not just from those trying to break him but also from the dynamic he has with his mother.