TRAVELLER (1997) ***

I come for a long line of gypsies, so Traveller gives me a taste of what it might’ve been like for me had I stuck with the old family tradition.  The story revolves around modern-day gypsies played by Bill Paxton and Mark Wahlberg who go around from town to town grifting and conning good folk out of their hard-earned money.  There’s a saying that goes, “Money won is sweeter than money earned.”  Well, money swindled is sweeter than both of them put together.

Wahlberg is a wet-behind-the-ears gypsy whose father left the fold to marry an outsider.  When his father passes away, Wahlberg returns home to regain his place in the family.  The head of the clan (Luke Askew, later in Paxton’s Frailty) doesn’t want any part of him, but Paxton vouches for him and agrees to take him out on the road and teach him the grifting ropes.  

Famed cinematographer-turned-first-time director Jack Green does a fine job doling out the details of the gypsies’ lifestyle.  He takes his time letting us get to know the ins-and-outs of the small-time swindles and long-term cons.  He’s also smart enough to know when to let us in on the deal and when to pull the wool over our eyes.

There’s also an interesting dynamic going on between the two leads.  While Wahlberg grows into his role with surprisingly adeptness, Paxton finds himself falling into a “normal” relationship with a bartender (Julianna Margulies), a former mark.  He develops a crush and a conscience and even goes so far to give her the money back.  

The film maybe gets a little too ugly and violent near the end.  I guess if you go around ripping off people, it’s bound to come back and bite you eventually.  However, the conclusion is a little too abrupt to really work.  Other than that misstep down around the home stretch, Traveller remains an absorbing, wonderfully acted indie drama.