The Inspection

The Inspection succeeds in the end because this powerful real-life character study is firmly rooted in reality.

It’s Ellis’s story and [Jeremy Pope] keeps you on his side all the way with a performance so direct, intuitive -- and restrained -- that you feel as if he’s letting you in on his every thought.

Fiercely candid, in its condemnation of the brutality that is enmeshed in the training programme, and in its celebration of the bonds and brotherhood that grow between fellow cadets.

The ending is a tad contrived (it gets a bit O Captain! My Captain!), and Gabrielle Union seems slightly one-dimensional as French’s cruel and bigoted mother. But there is much to appreciate here.

The Inspection may be by the book, but the layers of personal detail and emotionally resonant core lend it an authenticity that hits home and hits hard.

Some brilliant performances, but mixed messages cloud the overall impression.

Bratton's film makes the argument that, amidst the brutality of war (and in training for it), strength can also be found in and built upon vulnerability and empathy.

The Inspection remains a must-see. With career-defining performances from Pope, Castillo, and Woodbine, the film is one of the most important of the year, born out of someone's personal trauma for the world to see.

As the film progresses, the audience is begging for The Inspection to challenge them on something. Anything. The film doesn’t need to be pro- or anti-military to be successful, but it does need to know what it wants to say.

From overcoming the bouts of homonegativity to demanding the respect of both family and peers, French shows us that sometimes you can’t wait for the world to give you the respect you deserve.