Customer Reviews

Traveller [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Traveller takes on the subject of the eponymous groups of ethnic Irish con artists (there are also Scottish and English counterparts)of the Southeastern, Central and Southern United States with considerable (but not complete) authenticity. These groups typically fall short of the 'big cons' described in The Sting and some other con artist films, and instead concentrate on selling defective trailers and doing "homers" or construction and driveway repair scams. What the film does best with its fine cast of perfomers (even Mark Wahlberg, a vastly overrated actor does a good job playing himself in a role where it fits) is give an insight into the social milieu of the Travelers. This which forms a culture much like that of gypsies, which few Americans realize exists among peoples who came here from the British isles. Bill Paxton does his usual fine job in an understated role and my only criticism is that the film is just a bit quick and incomplete in providing a resolution of the issues. When Traveller was released it wasn't pushed very hard or circulated very widely and, as a result, few people were aware of it. This was an injustice, because it is far above the norm of Hollywood productions.

Usually I am not too nostalgic about 1990s films because I got to enjoy the best of them, laugh at the worst, and get disgusted by the most foul. THIS, I never heard of ....

TRAVELLER (1997) stars Bill Paxton and Mark (yes, "Marky-Mark") Wahlberg as two "Travellers" goofing their way across the South. In case you did not know, Travellers are real people: groups or more precisely families of Irish immigrants who've lived in the U.S. since at least the time of the Potato Famine. I guess they are a cross between Tinkers and gypsies. This film is deeply insulting to them, but then I know next to nothing about them.

Paxton is "Bokky", a Traveller who really wants to escape the clans and their mafia way of life. Marky is some young feller, Pat, a new arrival in town whose father married outside the clan families and was thus an outcaste. The two men get thrown together and some brand of weird "hilarity" ensues. Every review I have seen for this movie refers to all the Irish Travellers as "grifters" (which technically means those earning a living through con artistry or other illicit ways).

Actually, I saw this as an unusual 1990s film. This was a sort of comedic let's-watch-the-con-men-go-at-it. Unless it was a public service announcement for the states of Georgia, where this is set, North Carolina, where this was filmed, Texas or South Carolina - all the places where Irish Travellers live - I couldn't make heads or tails of this.

With the additional charms of the late and sorely missed James Gammon (the secret language Travellers speak is sometimes called "Gammon"), Julianna Margulies, and the creepy low-budget Luke Askew.

If I may quote an anonymous source: "This was one of the first... films to be foreclosed by the Screen Actors Guild for non-payment of wages and residuals to SAG members. On 13 July 2004, rights to the film were sold at auction." There is a rich sort of trivial history to this unworthy film, such as Paxton paying the original producer a lot of toadskins to chase him off; Paxton wanted to produce it himself. By the way, the Pidgin/Gaelic/English spoken by Irish Travellers is either called Gammon, Cant ("We can, They can't.") or Shelta. It is not called "gypsy" or "Romany".

In any case this thing was made-to-fall-flat: the same year brought us THE APOSTLE, AS GOOD AS IT GETS, BOOGIE NIGHTS (disgusting), THE FIFTH ELEMENT, THE FULL MONTY, the immortal and gorgeous KUNDUN, and Roberto Benigni's LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (Pope John Paul II's favorite flick).

My only real query is, who the heck would want the rights?!

Two stars for the true-to-life American ethnic group no one's ever heard of ... the rest is too terrible.

I love this film,check it out now! artisan could have putit in widescreen,with some extas,but the great film more than makes up for it.Mabye since lionsgate owns artisan we will get a special edition.

Ever since ONE FALSE MOVE (which was excellent) Paxton has come up with some very interesting roles. He's the type of actor who can slip by you on how deep his talent runs. Paxton's movies always lead to such gut-wrenching violence. This one has the nail-biting climax at the end. It was a little slow in the beginning but it progressed nicely. The best line was "you look people in the eye and lie to them but make sure you believe the lie yourself before you tell it." Juliana Margulies did a good job in this as well. Overall it was enjoyable.

This flick is pretty weak. This considering some of the actors in this movie are some of my favorites. If they weren't in it I would have given it 2 stars. Why this movie is rated by others as high as it is, is beyond me. I purchased this movie because of the other reviews and I am very disappointed with it.

An interesting, original movie based on reality. Screenwriter McGlynn wrote his script after doing much research into American gypses of the south.

McGlynn's Nicholl Fellowship award-winning script had tremendous potential, which director Jack Green does not entirely live up to, but it is still an enjoyable movie.

Good movie with Bill Paxton and Mark Wahlberg, But then I like anything with Mark Wahlberg. I have seen every movie of Mark Wahlberg's and I would rate this in the top half of his 25 movies. Good watching!

I picked up this title, solely based on the cast. And they do not disappoint you. Very strong acting, and a tidy little story line, keeps this movie well paced. A great little sleeper. Bill Paxton is amazing. If you him enjoyed 'One Fasle Move', this film takes his acting back to those days. So pick it up, and enjoy.

This is the best movie i do...

Love you all... Bill Paxton...