The Black LGBTQ Story in THE INSPECTION

 Elegance Bratton. That is the name of the Black queer man who directed and wrote the new indie film, THE INSPECTION. He must be thrilled with the excellent reviews his film has received. THE INSPECTION, the story of an ostracized young gay man who finds significance and self-worth when he joins the Marines, had already opened in Los Angeles and New York when the tragedy in Colorado Springs happened. An armed man entered a gay club, shot and killed five people. The gunman was taken down by the heroic action of a decorated Army veteran who is a straight ally to our LGBTQ community. He knew one of the patrons who was killed. The vet's daughter was in the club and he told a network news reporter that he considered all the people who frequented the club to be his family. Heaven bless that American hero.

THE INSPECTION is based on the life of Elegance Bratton. In his frayed relationship with his single mother, he was kicked out of the house for being gay and became a homeless gay youth. He joined the Marines. Two-time Tony nominee Jeremy Pope plays "Ellis French," the homeless young man who joins the Marines. Gabrielle Union plays his single working mother, a woman who worked hard to pursue the American dream. Recently, on the CBS Morning Show, Jeremy Pope was a guest. He talked about the film and told anchor Gayle King that he was often told, early in his career, to not tell people that he was queer because the revelation could result in unemployment. Many of us were told to keep quiet about being queer because it could lead to unemployment. I've been there. Today, Jeremy Pope has made history. He's a Black queer actor of stage, TV and film who is now playing a Black queer character in a film based on the life of its director/writer. Actress Gabrielle Union has a trans daughter and is very supportive of her.

THE INSPECTION is a film I want to see. Maybe you do too. Here's a trailer.

By the way, Elegance Bratton is a fan of TCM (cable's Turner Classic Movies). He said that one classic film that made a great impression on him as a filmmaker is the Douglas Siri 1959 remake of IMITATION OF LIFE and one particular scene with Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner in a segregated nightclub inspired an element of THE INSPECTION. Bratton shot his film in 19 days in the summer heat of Jackson, Mississippi during the pandemic.

Jeremy Pope was previously seen in the Ryan Murphy 2020 Netflix mini-series, HOLLYWOOD. He played the aspiring 1950s screenwriter who becomes the boyfriend of a handsome Hollywood newcomer whose name was changed to "Rock Hudson."