AFF Review: A Swingin' Trio

A husband slaving over the stove for dinner. A Valentine's dinner set for three. This is not the usual setup for a romantic drama, but it is for the promising debut A Swingin' Trio.

Kelvin Phillips and Carla Jackson's first feature is a tense tale of secrets, lies and revelations interspersed with the cool jazz stylings of the Jeff Lofton Trio. Homer (Johnny Walter) is a writer married to successful producer Trude (Timeca Seretti). He has all the time in the world while collecting rejection letters on his literary masterpiece. Meanwhile, Trude can't seem to detach herself from her phone and her business deals, breezing through the house as if it's a hotel. Homer has something special planned for Valentine's Day dinner, but it's not just his signature seafood gumbo. 

Set almost entirely in three rooms in a home, A Swingin' Trio takes some time to build steam but then it simmers right along until the end. That Homer has a spiteful agenda is quickly apparent, but exactly what that agenda is, is not. Much of the second act is full of feints and barbs and questionable motives leading up to an inevitable conclusion. But exactly which path will be taken remains a mystery as it unfolds. 

With just three actors in those three rooms, there isn't a lot of maneuvering room in A Swingin' Trio. Early on, the acting is overly theatrical, better suited for a stage with a live audience. But it doesn't last as the actors embrace each moment, especially with most of the film presenting the story in real time. Walter's caustic pathos manages to be both self-indulgent and charming (he's worth watching just to hear him utter "verisimilitude"). Timeca Seretti (Blacktino) plays counterpoint with her abrasive distractedness that may or may not be hiding more selfless emotions. The wildcard is LeMarc Johnson, who plays a catalytic pawn. 

A Swingin' Trio could have easily turned melodramatic, but instead the movie keeps the audience wondering about motivations and just what might happen.

Austin connections: A Swingin' Trio was shot in Austin -- you might recognize Betsy's Bar on West Sixth. For more details, read our interview with the filmmakers.

A Swingin' Trio plays once more during Austin Film Festival: Wednesday, October 26, at 6 pm at the Texas Spirit Theater in the Texas State History Museum.