DISCREET (2008) **

Discreet tells the story of a successful twentysomething insurance salesman named Thomas (James Gracie, who also wrote the script) who happens to be a virgin.  Me makes a date with a beautiful working girl named Monique (Anel Alexander) and pays her for an hour and a half to just talk.  She is perplexed by his request, but she obliges him.  Things get complicated as they get to know one another, and predictably, they wind up learning a little bit about themselves too.

Discreet is based on a play, which is obvious since the bulk of the movie is set in one location with two people having awkward conversations about life, relationships, religion, and sex.  The leads are rather good, have a decent amount of chemistry, and help to keep you engaged in the thoroughly familiar material.  Director Joshua Rous does a fine job at keeping the pace moving along at a steady clip.  You have to give him credit.  He finds a few ways, through camera movement and blocking, to prevent it from feeling overly stagey.

The will-they-or-won’t-they tension is built up adequately enough between the actors.  There are a few funny moments along the way too, and a one or two insightful bits, which prevent it from being totally forgettable.  Once things take a turn for the dramatic, the film falters, mostly because it just seems too arbitrary.  It’s almost like Gracie needed an excuse for his characters to have an argument, and instead of letting it occur naturally, it comes off as forced.  

Discreet isn’t bad as an exercise in low budget filmmaking.  It seems as if everyone did their best with what they were given.  However, there just isn’t enough worthwhile drama here to push it into the win column.