Cynthia and Mary show up to collect Cynthia’s inheritance from her deceased grandfather, but the only item she receives is an antique sword that was believed by her grandfather to be proof that the South won the Civil War.
Lynn Shelton’s little independent movie “Sword of Trust” takes an interesting excursion into the realm of modern-day urban legend and superstition. The premise boldly proposes that an antique sword with its attendant authentication papers offers proof that the Confederacy won the Civil War against the Union.
Marc Maron stars as Mel, the owner of a pawnshop, working alongside his distracted employee Nathaniel (Jon Bass). Mel buys other people’s used stuff in an ostensibly honest fashion, though he certainly wants to make a few bucks if the opportunity presents itself. Nonetheless, he’s a guy with a conscience. When Mel’s ex-girlfriend Deirdre (Lynn Shelton) stops in to pawn a ring for cash, most likely with the intent of using the money to buy drugs, Mel refuses. In the course of his conversation with Deirdre, the tension between them is palpable.
Cynthia, played by Jillian Bell, arrives at her deceased grandfather’s house along with her partner Mary (Michaela Watkins) in the expectation of inheriting the property. Instead, Cynthia and Mary find out that the bequeathal consists of an antique Confederate sword, complete with an improbable and fluid history, depending on who is telling the story. When the two women decide to sell the artifact, they meet Mel and Nathaniel at the pawnshop. Soon enough, this motley crew learns that in certain circles, the sword is worth forty-thousand dollars in cash.
Toby Huss appears shortly thereafter on behalf of a potential buyer. As a true conspiracy theory believer that goes by the name of Hog Jaws, Huss delivers a nice droll performance. His matter-of-fact condescension and barely concealed disdain for the city-folk provides some of the best moments of the film.
Similarly, in the course of events, Maron’s character encounters a wide range of personalities, to which he consistently returns delightful sarcastic rejoinders. He is pelted repeatedly with often-inane hillbilly commentary, apparently an obligatory feature of life as a resident of rural Alabama and Tennessee where the movie is set.
Subtle humor and biting social commentary infuse much of this easygoing narrative, marred only by the somewhat lethargic pacing that becomes evident in several scenes that ramble on a bit longer than necessary. Nonetheless, “Sword of Trust” remains a competent independent production that leads the audience on an interesting and unusual adventure deep into the heart of the South in the era of Trump.
In Theaters Friday, August 2nd
