Discreet (2008) User Reviews

Regrettably dull

[info-781-633437 · 3/10 · 28 September 2013]

My coming across this 2008 SA'n movie was pure happenstance. I had recently watched 'Veraaiers', 'Skoonheid', 'Black Butterflies' and 'Die Wonderwerker' - all really fabulous movies. So I was very excited to come across another recent 'art' movie from SA. Wow, what a dull posturing piece of pretension. I guess the two leads (throughout), the Alexanders are a married couple (surely not brother & sister?) and they produced this piece. They spent a lot of time and effort getting this movie together... what a shame.

A seemingly shy and dull 25-year old man, who is surprisingly successful at work considering his disinterest with the meeting he is attending, hires a up-market prostitute for 90 minutes. He uses all his time not having sex (she is very appealing, and claims to be a dancer) but endlessly talking. He is very unsexy. So their varied histories are slowly, very slowly, revealed. So from a shallow hiring of a body (he purports to be a virgin, but isn't really, just inexperienced) to the revealing of both of their inner lives - her real name, his circumstances, a kiss on the mouth, changing postures, repeated leavings/returns to the one apartment that occupies 90% of the movie. This is not 'My Dinner with Andre' or a Richard Linklater masterpiece.

And she does not phone him at the end, as per another reviewer, but her mother. His phone rings in the final scene, having FINALLY left, and it is not her but his girlfriend. The movie ends without us knowing if he accepts the call. Cut to black! Gosh - the uncertainty is driving me crazy. Not.

Well-Written and Well-Acted Low Budget Film

[lavatch · 7/10 · 15 July 2017]

"Discreet" aired for free on Amazon Prime, and it was a well-paced film that had the feel of a stage play.

The dialogue takes place nearly in "real time" in Sandton, South Africa, as a 25-year-old man has reserved a time slot with an escort in her swanky apartment. After answering the internet ad from "Discreet, Upmarket," he pays his "fee" of $8,000 in cash. The film then unfolds as a long conversation about life, life, childhood, religion, ideals, and lying.

The lying is central as both characters at first do not reveal their real names. Young Thomas first claims to be Peter. And Monique morphs into Monica, then Christy, and, finally, Kareen.

The structure of the conversation is the peeling away of the layers of lies with each character critiquing the other. Kareen offers a razor sharp analysis of how Thomas's religious background has messed him up. In turn, Thomas sees through Kareen's "act," recognizing that she desires true love and a committed relationship.

Many stage plays are adapted into turgid film versions. But this film successfully develops a two-character conversation into compelling drama. Beyond the film, the two actors apparently enjoy a successful marriage in real life.

This film is worth watching for the crisp dialogue and good performances.

a complete load of crap

[sandcrab277 · 1/10 · 30 April 2018]

The other reviewers of this piece of junk must have been part of the cast and crew....no male that age is that unfamiliar with the female anatomy unless he's become celibate to join an order and then he would still know more than the rope-a-dope playing the part...on the other hand, the female is hardly a personable sex bomb ...if she was that cold and indifferent to clients she wouldn't last 10 minutes as a high end call girl, escort or whatever tag you want to put on a prostitute...i gave a star for stupidity

An Honest Review

[generationofswine · 1/10 · 5 January 2020]

Some films bill themselves as exactly what they are. And I have no problem with that.

This implies itself to be something other than it is. You expect, at best, The Girlfriend Experience, at worst Student Services, and at the absolute bottom either Pretty Woman or 50 Shades.

What you get is neither.

What you get is a horrible script made worse by bad actors.

Maybe it billed itself so deceivingly in an effort to divert expectations. Maybe they did it because they knew they had a bad film.

In either case, this film assumed it was better than it was and didn't have the talent behind it to allow for an annoyingly pretentious delivery.

What you have here is a film that thinks it is deep and poignant, but is really just gutter trash putting on the airs of high society.

Absolute pleasure to watch.

[JonnyGJ · 8/10 · 12 June 2009]

Great acting and a great script made this film into something special. One of those films were you walk out after watching it and you feel you really got your moneys worth. It reminds me of Hunter Richards film London with Jason Statham and Jessica Biel. Both these movies explores the impact strangers can have on each other. "The best conversation you will ever have is with a stranger." Anel Alexander and James Alexander pulls the the viewers in right from the start and do not let go till the next day. It is not one of those movies where you know were it is heading in that way it creates a type of suspense. And keeps the audience griped right to the end.

Discreet is definitely not everybody's cup of tee but if you like a film that portrays people in the real world this movie was made for you.

..taking us to a different place in the world's oldest profession

[bjarias · 8/10 · 20 February 2018]

This is one of those films starts off and you soon think you have a good idea of where it is all going. And then you get caught up in the performances and dialogue, and it turns into more than you had hoped or expected. It only works because of the two great young actors and their direction. Each of them so much look like others in the profession that which you are familiar, but it is their own abilities that keep you involved here. The story-line is similar in style and substance to others, but it somehow seems fresh. It's the most unlikely call-girl and her John movie that you are likely to encounter in quite some time.

Excellent Journey into the Mental Aspect of Great Sex

[abarksdale-1 · 9/10 · 4 April 2017]

First of all, I watched this 3X before I picked up on all that happens. Well put together. The story starts with a phone call wanting to schedule an escort appointment with Monique ($8,000). Then it shifts to a her in a clinic being tested for AIDS, we can only assume she is in remission because she is tested frequently and is none to fond of needles telling the nurse "you can stick me next time". Remarkable plot and story line involving 2 individuals and the journey toward sex between individuals without having it on the screen. The lady is a high priced escort provider and the guy (Thomas)is a young, successful high tech programming genius who is engaged (later revealed), but wants to know more about what sex is supposed to be. He and his finance had a bad first time experience we learn later after he confesses to Monique that he is not a virgin after all. He is wanting to break off the engagement. He is willing to pay the fee for it, and she wants to go on with him and does many things to stir his desires, but he would rather chat about it and find out what makes great sex. The setting is her high rent apartment flat and the erotic journey is incredible. He goes on and on not understanding but searching for more wisdom. She has many lapses to reluctantly tell him more about her. She lets her guard down thinking he may be the one to rescue her and proved it by violating one of her cardinal rules and kissing him on the lips in a move to show him she is serious! He then gently lets her down by wanting to just be a friend to help her get a respectable job. She quickly covers up by indicating that she would not go and be a secretary on low wages and indicating that she was just joking with him. He leaves the sensual adventure to go back to his life, but he comes back to her door more than once indicating he is having second thoughts. The last time he comes back in she is on a phone not hearing him come in only to overhear a conversation with her friend/handler that she had hooked him up for another session and to tell the next suitor that she is done for the night. At that point he realizes that he was played. Big surprise. That's what they do. At the end, she calls her Mom in a tearful state to say hi. We can only infer that she is really a lonely person who wants love. This movie was self financed by the actors and friends and really should get more US attention. Now that it is on Netflix, I think it will.

Well acted and engaging

[jillianathome · 8/10 · 13 July 2016]

I thought the actors did a really good job in their roles (interesting chemistry when the actors are actually married in the real world). The story was good and engaging, although she did put up with his "questions" longer than she should have. The ending could have been written many different ways, but I liked how this ended. Sure, if you preferred all the talk done in bed after a seductive strip tease and sweaty sex, then this film will seem dull. But it seemed fitting that no unnecessary body parts were exposed. On a five star rating, I would give this a 4.5. The extra 1/2 star is because it was an indie film that was really well done!

I couldn't stop watching

[psychosxer · 8/10 · 15 February 2021]

Believable actors that draw you in. I really enjoyed this movie. Kind of makes you realize how fake people can be so as not to get their feelings hurt or become vulnerable. This is my first review of a movie, ever.

Sex workers will love this film!

[kaitlinjbrowell · 10/10 · 30 March 2019]

I've seen quite a few horror movies but this film tops the list. Every sex worker that watches this will be able to connect with the main character on an almost emotional level. You get to experience her anxiety about having a difficult client that doesn't listen to no. So many cringey moments and him acting really rude at times. I was thinking when is this bitch gonna ask him to leave. I would have kicked his ass out once he started trying to "rescue" me while being condescending. Things escalated and I thought he was going to surely kill her at any moment. After refusing to leave and even reentering her home multiple times. I screamed out loud when he burst back through the front door. I haven't ever been this terrified of a movie. I was basically yelling at my tv, "kick him out, oh my god why are you letting him stay!!" 10/10 would watch again!