Toronto International Film Festival 2022: THE INSPECTION: A Conventional But Heartfelt Debut
What could a film about enlisting with the Marines possibly offer that past films have not? The answer is surprisingly a lot. When done right, a film that lives in familiar territory can still be carried by the voice, the talent, and the narrative specificity. Meanwhile, it’s completely okay to let tropes be tropes, because there is a reason why we come back to them time and time again as moviegoers.
In the case of The Inspection, we have a story that, in terms of premise, is definitely something we’ve seen before. Ellis French (Jeremy Pope) enlists with the Marines to get off the streets and potentially make peace with his estranged mother (Gabrielle Union).
What sets it apart from other titles, instantly, is how specific and personal this story is. French was kicked out of the house years ago after his mother learned he was gay. He enlisted in 2005, when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was still in effect. But the most important piece, which thankfully has been echoed throughout the film’s marketing, is the film is based on writer/director Elegance Bratton’s own personal experiences when he enlisted.
Individual(s) vs. A System
Running at an efficient 95 minutes, The Inspection covers the Marine Corps boot camp training day by day, as script and cinematography come together to capture sequences that are brutal but also beautiful and intimate, all faced head-on by Pope, who gives a tremendous performance. He owns his close-ups and is more than up to the task of holding a scene alone or playing off of other actors (the scenes with him and Union are particularly great).
As the film goes on, you would expect the story to be a one-man show of having to hide one’s identity and sexual orientation from start to finish, but to my great surprise, French gets discovered instantly. Which brings me to the film’s greatest strength.
The Inspection surprisingly rests on an ensemble cast dynamic instead of one sole lead. Though it is still very much about French and Bratton’s personal experiences, the film spends enough time and effort on the supporting characters around him.
A Fantastic Ensemble
With the camp knowing that French is gay, a quickly established conflict involves the camp’s unit commander (Bokeem Woodbine) doing everything he can to break him and force him to quit, while a drill instructor (Raúl Castillo) tries to help him find his footing. The script even takes the time to explore struggles in other recruits, notably that of Ismail (Eman Esfandi), a recruit whose religious faith and ethnicity is under attack from the camp, as recruits are taught how the enemy will look like him.
A moment between Ismail and French midway through the film brings its message to the forefront clear as day. Despite the film being full of heavy scenes and moments of misery, it is shot and directed with an empathetic lens, focusing more on how that pain becomes inner strength. Most of all, it advocates for individuals to come together and support each other, because it’s so much harder to go at it alone. Furthermore, it’s the only way we can combat a political system that was designed to oppress.
The Inspection: A Tale of Identity, Strength, and Community
It’s so easy for Bratton to make a pity film or an angry film that condemns military practices. But surprisingly, by the end, it’s just as patriotic as you would hope, because supporting soldiers and veterans is a different matter from supporting policies.
For a feature film directorial debut, The Inspection avoids several autobiographical pitfalls and genre trappings on a storytelling front, while demonstrating a solid handling of tone, color, and mood. Every time, Bratton and his DP Lachlan Milne know the perfect place to incorporate slow-motion or strong saturated lighting. The style never overstays its welcome and manages to be a terrific balance between the psychological and the physical.
Even if you can predict where the narrative goes, there is no denying that The Inspection carries a powerful story with an emerging voice of talent. It’s a small little film that is as heavy as it is empowering, with a phenomenal lead performance by Pope and a beautifully restrained maturity by Bratton.
What did you think of The Inspection? Let us know in the comments below!
The Inspection premiered on September 8, 2022 at the Toronto International Film Festival. A24 will release the film in US theaters on November 18, 2022.
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