The Inspection (2022)

First time writer/director Bratton's autobiographical film The Inspection is a tight but powerful portrait of a man resisting in the face of ongoing aggression. His experience is specifically set in the hyper zealous environment of a US marine bootcamp, where toxic masculinity is celebrated and the purpose is to break people. He sets himself (as he did in real life) as a queer man into the centre of this and this is his tale of survival. 

The Inspection uses his experience as a marine as a symbol of his entire life. As a queer black man he has faced the aggressions of the world around him, designed to ensure he doesn't survive up to this point and it has almost broken him. It is in his pursuit of this extreme goal where everything he has faced up to this point is intensified that he find his means of over coming. As the marines intend to break him down to build him back up that is what he has done for himself by the end of this film. He has not only survived, he has found his strength and those opposing him are broken in front of him. 

Jeremy Pope is remarkable as Ellis French (the fictional version of Bratton) throughout the film giving a stand out performance. He doesn't portray French as a pillar of strength instead letting us see his power through his humanity and weaknesses. In a scene near the end he confronts his mother (played by the also stunning Union) where in the face of her rejection he stands up to her with "I will never give up on you" and he is one of the strongest film heroes we've seen this year. The Inspection is a portrait of a man who has overcome so much and has found the strength to continue to overcome. 

The Inspection is lean in a few places and sometimes feel s a bit rushed. But its focus on what is essential to its story keeps the power of its story fresh and relevant. Pope demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with, as did first time director Bratton, and I can't wait to see what both of them will do next. 

The Inspection

Starring: Jeremy Pope, Gabrielle Union, Raúl Castillo, Bokeem Woodbine, McCaul Lombardi, Aubrey Joseph

Writer/Director: Elegance Bratton