(Photo Credits: Screengrab from A24’s Official YouTube Account)
Are you now or have you ever been a homosexual?
In The Inspector, we follow the story of Ellis French’s (played by actor Jeremy Pope; The Normal Heart, Pose) journey to becoming a marine as well as his tumultuous relationship with his mother Inez (played by actress Gabrielle Union; Truth Be Told, L.A.’s Finest). In the movie trailer, Ellis can be heard saying: “My mom, she won’t even talk to me. Most of my friends are dead or in jail. If I die in this uniform, I’m a hero to somebody.”
And so, Ellis enlisted in the Marine Corps where he was sent to train at a boot camp located on Parris Island, South Carolina. Unfortunately, Ellis had been unable to disguise his sexual orientation, thus, he found himself on the receiving end of his training instructor Leland Laws’ (Bokeem Woodbine; Halo, Fargo) near-lethal hazing and harassment. It didn’t help that his fellow recruit, Laurence Harvey (McCaul Lombardi; Port Authority, Anywhere with You), eagerly jumped on the bandwagon.
The film’s official blurb reads:
In Elegance Bratton’s deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.
Check out the film’s trailer below:
The film also stars Raúl Castillo, Nicholas Logan, Eman Esfandi, and Aaron Dominguez to name a few. The Inspector, which was written and directed by Elegance Bratton who’s known for My House (2018), and Pier Kids (2019), is currently playing in select theaters in the US. It will hit theaters in Canada and worldwide on December 2, 2022. Check here for more information.
Speaking to NPR, Bratton said of his film, “The Inspection” is 100% autobiographical when it comes to the hopes, fears, desires, and motivations of its lead character, even if it’s a situation that I personally haven’t been in.” He added, “But when it comes to the relationship with his mother, it’s ripped directly out of my life – all words that were said, dynamics that were real. But even that requires a bit of finessing when making it into a motion picture.” Read the interview in full here.
Another, “trite is right” gay melodrama…
formularized as usual…
depicting gay males as unfortunate, downtrodden, forlorn and otherwise,
ostracized, and condemned by family, friends and society – et al!
To be pitied and a recipient of grace, manna and salvation through the efforts of the chosen few!
And, of course…
all the principal characters are minorities!
I know that there is someone Caucasian somewhere lurking?
You think that fact of the character; has to do with all the negative comments, I do, too. Some are denying it all together, while one is claiming, “it my story” even though he alleges he’s an Indigenous, bi- man . . . well, the story is that of black-gay man, how can it be his story? You know, they do indeed, talk to ‘real’ military men with real military experiences, many are throughout hist., African Americans . . . My biological father/ legal fathers were in WWII, they have some very interesting, shameful stories to tell of their experiences/treatment,… Read more »
It sounds like, finally, a gay film with a substantial, meaningful story.
Padre:
A “Substantial, meaningful story”?
You need a second helping of the “Eucharist”!
Talk to real gay soldiers and men and women in uniform if you want a “substantial, meaningful story”. As a retired E8, I do get tired of people that weren’t there telling my story, a made-up story.
Jim_
If they did talk to real soldiers, they would not be able to continue fabricating the “Trials and Tribulations” of Homosexuals to the gullible public!
It is all Liberal Advertising and as such, someone or something, has to be pitied and lost to garnish any public support.
Wow, how do you know he’s not a real soldier, where’s your proof?
Graduate of the “USMA,” 1985.
Why should we believe you, that you are a real one/ once a cadet?
Why not?
If it weren’t true, I would not have posted it.
You have the issue with it?
You, “have an issue,” with the movie, so I “have an issue” with you; about the movie . . . now what, what else ya’ got?
Congrats
Likewise, for you!
Jim, Jim . . . I could swear, I read somewhere, that you said, “I am a Native American” among other things, e.g., bi.
Point being: how can a gay, African American, among other points of mention; be telling your story?
How is it, why is it that he is not a real soldier?
I am a native American. Telling my story is one that involves serving 23 years in silence than having some Hollyweird director putting his spin on what it’s like serving this nation as a bi or gay soldier.
So, then what gives you the right, to deny someone else’s “true story” even if much like your own, endured in silence or not, but endured just the same? Please explain. As I don’t want to believe the “Ingine” in you, has indeed been killed, saving the man? Is this an example of some narcissistic nature? What, Jim? No one had even seen the damn movie yet, as of the day of the thread posted, and you’re off! To all the negative bitter-hateful, denial of this man’s story. Jim, there’s a zillion different stories out there, alright? How dare you,… Read more »
Why don’t these people talk to actual soldiers and get the real shit form those have been there?
How the hell, do you know they haven’t? Where, is the proof?!!!
Why so confrontational?
Well, first of all, that’s my nature, lmao! . . . In this case though, among others, there was the need to ‘confront’ the unfounded attitudes/reactions/comments, attacks and denials of a “true story.” I’m curious to drive out of you, the very reason, why? I can recall a thread not that long ago, about a gay movie centering around what I call “the usual fluff” in gay movies. People were complaining/commenting, including myself, about more meaningful/meatier/grittier movies around the lives of gay Americans; portraying ‘us’ in more substantial roles. Well, here it is, poof! Maybe the main character, should have… Read more »
As usual, politics and bitterness, tinged with racism . . .
“WHITE” people, my fellow cocksuckers and whatever else you maybe, lmao, it’s not “your story!”
Where or where did you miss, “(my) story, as a black, gay, homeless male, rejected by his mother?”
What part of this, folks, is part of your story, where those of saying so?
There’s just something really sickeningly wrong you people.
It’s laughable, the sick comments/attacks regarding this movie “true story” by someone else’s account of an event in ‘his’ life; that people are pushing back about.
It’s seeming as though, there’s this wave of “true hist” revolving around African American heroism; that the “white nationalists” are actually experiencing a push back themselves, this whole push back against the “woke movement.” Which is nothing more than being civically, socially, etc., aware- educated.
But I do understand, not agree, of course . . . it’s about denying the history, in order to erase it . . . tug-of-war, anyone?!