Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Inspection Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 22, 2023

It's always best to take epigrams like "based on a true story" with a grain (or perhaps a pillar) of salt, as I learned the hard way when I initially believed the largely discredited version of events depicted in the supposed biography of Frances Farmer, Frances. In this particular case, though, The Inspection was written and directed by the man whose story the film purports to tell, and while even Elegance Bratton in his frequently engaging commentary included on this disc as a bonus feature admits that he has (to use a term that has become synonymous with the legal wranglings which ultimately surrounded Frances) "fictionalized" things to a certain degree, there's still a visceral emotional intensity to the film that rings true more often than not. Just a few weeks ago I kind of broke the "rules" of this site's annual Top 10 lists by offering a studio rather than a single film in the prime position, and while I mentioned that I hoped the creatives at the studio "kept A24 weird", this is a rather unusual effort from the studio in that it's a relatively unstylized film with a (no sexual orientation pun intended, given the film's focus) straightforward narrative that depicts the travails of a young black man named Ellis French (Jeremy Pope, Golden Globe nominated for this performance). Ellis has been kicked out of the home of his harridan mother Inez (Gabrielle Union) for being gay, and he has ended up at a homeless shelter, where he notices the bulk of the people there are older black men who have, in the words of Bratton's commentary, been "in the system" for decades and are obviously trapped. Ellis, not wanting that fate for himself, decides to sign up for the Marines, his gayness notwithstanding.

Parts of The Inspection can't help but touch on any number of other stories which have at least a tangential tether to boot camp or some kind of training regimen, including such notable films as Full Metal Jacket and A Few Good Men. Ellis is thrust into a situation that is rife with potential stumbling blocks, but rather interestingly, the film shows the young man managing to maintain a certain balance even as things ultimately spiral into violence aimed at him for his sexual preferences.

The dialectic in The Inspection is rather provocative, in that the subtext of Ellis' "journey" is that he's trying to "find himself", and yet one of the chief aims of being a recruit in any branch of the armed services is the near eradication of the self, or at least the Ego, in favor of the "groupthink" of being on a team. Things are of course complicated further by the seemingly uncontrollable urges Ellis experiences, which unfortunately penetrate his attempts to "pass" as a straight man, leading to a horrifying smackdown. Ellis literally picks himself up and dusts himself off (repeatedly, actually), and The Inspection almost seems to be headed to near happily ever after territory until "graduation" day, when Inez returns to put an emotional damper on things.

As such, there's an undeniable melancholy that runs through this film, even if a pull quote on the front cover of this release touts it as being "uplifting". Pope offers a really moving and invigorating performance, and Union is amazing in two rather brief scenes that bookend the film. Bratton made his name as a documentarian, and there's a quasi vérité feel to the film, even with what Bratton calls homages to Terrence Malick's love of landscapes and other brief flourishes that, while not exactly the paradigm of what some have come to expect from A24, at least give the film a bit of, well, elegance.

The Inspection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Inspection is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films (and A24, of course) with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. The closing credits roll features an Alexa logo, but I haven't been able to track down authoritative information as to the resolution of the DI (as always with my reviews, if anyone can point me to verifiable data, private message me and I'll happily update things here). This isn't a "showy" film from a visual perspective, despite some of Bratton's mentions of things like extended views of landscapes, repeated uses of mirrors and reflections, and recurrent "lens flare", but the within the context of offering something relatively "realistic" looking, the palette is natural and nicely suffused, and detail levels are typically excellent. A number of either nighttime or dimly lit scenes, especially some in the barracks, don't offer a wealth of shadow detail or fine detail, but those moments tend to be the exceptions rather than the rule. This is another digital capture that has had a rather liberal sprinkling of digital grain applied, but I found the results relatively organic looking.

The Inspection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Inspection features a really evocative DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is elevated by a rather unusual score by The Animal Collective, one that tends to feature layers of percussion and vocalizations that are almost feral in effect at times, but which regularly engage the side and rear channels. A lot of the basic training material also offers immersive moments courtesy of the clamor of a group of men grunting and groaning throughout various exercises. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

The Inspection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Writer / Director Elegance Bratton


• Protect and Serve: Making The Inspection (HD; 13:45) is an above average EPK with some good interviews with the principal cast and crew.


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 7:46)

Additionally, a digital copy is included, and packaging features a slipcover.

The Inspection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are moments of clunkiness in the writing, but the visceral intensity of all of the performances, especially that of Pope, help to make this an involving story, even if it may not exactly be as "uplifting" as that pull quote on the cover proclaims. This is a really impressive first narrative feature from Elegance Bratton, and it will be interesting to see where this gifted filmmaker goes next. Technical merits are solid, and the few supplements enjoyable. Recommended.