The Inspection

Directed by Elegance Bratton

★★★

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(L-R) Gabrielle Union, Jeremy Pope

Credit: Patti Perret

Writer/director Elagance Bratton steps onto the filmmaking scene with his debut feature The Inspection, a somewhat autobiographical depiction of his tumultuous relationship with his mother, after coming out leading to the camaraderie he received after enlisting in the Marine Corps, although these relationships were not easily earned. 

The film boasts a bevy of incredible performances. Jeremy Pope is incredibly affecting as Bratton’s screen stand-in, portraying so much pain and nuance with every turn of his eyes. Just as incredible is Gabrielle Union, who plays Pope’s mother. She, along with homophobia and racism, are the film’s main antagonists. Although she isn’t always likeable, she is so incredibly real. So incredibly human. Union really gets to show off her acting chops in a way that she never really had the chance to before. She is magnificent. Bookeem Woodbine and Raúl Castillo also turn in great work. 

Bratton’s film is beautiful to look at, and you are really able to see what he could be capable of. What’s frustrating, though, is that the film, though good, could’ve been so much more. For such strong, personal and relevant themes, by the end, the film winds up being a little too simple. Sure, simplicity can be a good thing, but with a runtime of a little over 90 minutes, there was an opportunity to make more of an impact than what we ultimately end up with. 

Yes, the film is good, but it’s not great. And it could’ve been. It should’ve been.