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A24
Gamechanger Films
Not part of a collection.
Ellis French is 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.
CinemaSerf
Feb 25, 2023 · via TMDB
"French" (Jeremy Pope) is an itinerant gay man who, estranged from his prison office mother "Inez" (Gabrielle Union), has concluded that the only way to stop himself becoming subsumed into an underworld of drugs, disease and most likely death, is to join the US Marines. Having failed at just about everything else, his mother is somewhat sceptical, but to bootcamp he goes where he encounters the stereotypically brutish gunnery sergeant-major "Laws" (Bokeem Woodbine). It's all based on a true story directed and adapted from his own story by Elegance Bratton, so jeopardy here there isn't. That said, Pope and Woodbine are both on good form as the former runs the gamut of a tough training regime coupled with a prejudice against his sexuality that proves distinctly dangerous. His trainer offers him nothing by way of support or sympathy, intent on instilling the most primitive of "survival of the fittest" mentalities amongst all of his recruits. It is a little procedural, but it's still an interesting tale from a man who resisted the temptations to jack it all in - and sends a clear message of perseverance and determination that does resonate to a certain, predictable, extent. Essentially, though, it's a television movie that doesn't really need a cinema screening and though watchable and important, it isn't a story that will linger in the memory for long afterwards, I'm afraid.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On Demand
Plex
Jeremy Pope
Ellis French
Gabrielle Union
Inez French
Bokeem Woodbine
Laws
Raúl Castillo
Rosales
McCaul Lombardi
Harvey
Nicholas Logan
Brooks
Eman Esfandi
Ismail
Aaron Dominguez
Castro
Aubrey Joseph
Boles
Andrew Kai
Label
Tyler Merritt
Shamus
Steve Mokate
Colonel Casey
Wynn Reichert
Chaplain
Reginald Murray
Veteran
Becky Boxer
Dettman's Wife (uncredited)
Jered Meeks
Marine (uncredited)
Lachlan Milne
Director of Photography
Amanda Pepin
Makeup Department Head
Elegance Bratton
Director
Kim Taylor-Coleman
Casting
Chris Quintos Cathcart
Executive Producer
Gabrielle Union
Executive Producer
Kim Taylor-Coleman
Executive Producer
Melony Lewis
Executive Producer
Regina K. Scully
Executive Producer
Valerie Steinberg
Executive Producer
Avey Tare
Original Music Composer
Deakin
Original Music Composer
Geologist
Original Music Composer
Panda Bear
Original Music Composer
Elegance Bratton
Writer
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1978 · 13 wins
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2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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