In
the UK, Irish Travellers are officially recognized as an ethnic group, whereas
in Ireland, they are simply considered a social group. Yet, within both countries,
Travellers commonly face prejudice and widespread suspicion of criminal
behavior. Chad Cutler’s father is doing his best to perpetuate those
stereotypes. Crime is definitely their family business, but Cutler has
ambitions of a different, better way of life for his son in Adam Smith’s Trespass Against Us (trailer here) which opens this Friday in theaters.
Compared
to the rest of his father Colby’s Traveller campsite, Cutler is the responsible
one, but not necessarily by his outsider wife Kelly’s standards. The illiterate
Cutler adamantly insists his children must go to school, but his “traditional”
father does his best to discourage his impressionable grandson Tyson from his
studies. Obviously, that is a major point of contention between father and
grown son, but Cutler’s intention to retire from crime and his increasing
antagonism towards some of the cruder members of the camp will fray their
relationship further. However, Chad Cutler has a hard time resisting a good car
chase. Indeed, he and British copper P.C. Loverage are like the Traveller
version of Smoky and the Bandit.
Adam
Smith has a heck of a name to live up to, so best of luck to him. Obviously, Trespass is an insignificant trifle
compared to The Wealth of Nations, but
it is a rollicking good time—which is not nothing. Smith has a particular knack
for reinvigorating movie car chases, getting a key assist from the Chemical
Brothers’ Big beat score. Chases scenes often feel like rote obligations, but
they are the best part of Trespass.
Of
course, Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson are also two of the very best in
the business. When they face-off as Chad and Colby Cutler, they generate all
the right kind of sparks. However, Lyndsey Marshal holds her own against both
of them as the understandably exasperated Kelly Cutler. She provides the film a
reality check and a moral center, without ever coming across like scold. In
fact, she is a net plus when it comes to generating on-screen energy in general
and particularly in her chemistry-heavy scenes with Fassbender.
Frustratingly,
Trespass wilts into a treacly
after-school special in its final scenes, but until then, Smith largely hits
the right notes: ruckus and earthy, but not excessively quirky, naturalistic,
cynical, or violent. Solidly entertaining, Trespass
Against Us opens this Friday (1/20) in select cities.
