Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

The Invite 

This is one of the best written and acted films of the year that has tremendous comedy and emotionally affective dramatic depth. I remember when this film was announced and Olivia Wilde was directing it caught my attention right away because I liked Booksmart which she debuted with back in 2019 and ever since she has remained on my raider of filmmakers to keep up with. Seeing the cast being Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton yeah you could say it caught my attention as I had no idea what the plot was about but that only strengthen my curiosity in it due to knowing so little which also enriched my viewing experience. This film plays out like you’re watching a well acted on stage play while having an anxiety attack the way this film executes the tone of relationship dynamics is phenomenally well done onto of amazing performances some of which are the best their careers in many ways. The Invite is hilarious, emotional and intoxicatingly fun it will make you want to revisit it the moment it’s over.

Firstly, Olivia Wilde has outdone herself with what she has crafted with The Invite Now their is much influence from films of the 70’s within this story just in the way its structured I found a lot of comparisons to Fences, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolf and even the dialogue felt reminiscent of a Sindey Lumet film which to me is high praise because he was one of the greatest filmmakers of his era.  The editing is frantic like a Danny Boyle film and the filmmakers I am comparing this film too never feels like its a rip off in any way it simply I feel is just borrowing bits of that style or is very much in the same vein of that type of filmmaking while making this film entirely original on its own. The film heavily discusses the strain of relationships and what happens when resentment becomes the bedrock of what your relationship has turned into and going from being so in love to simply finding even the smallest fragment about your day to explode on your partner or find a reason to nitpick something about them this film explores that and so much more in a really relatable way that either someone is currently going through or you at some point have experienced that type of emotional hurdle in a romantic dynamic. As the film never takes sides for instance Seth’s character is a total tool but their are reasons though why he is that way but at the same time Olivia Wilde’s character wants to feel seen and looked at with love which he just has not done in so long and so so many arguments are easily sparked due to that lack of recognition on his part of knowing how to properly love her the way he used to. When the film shows the neighbours played by Norton and Cruz show up it opens the floor for conversations of what they fail to acknowledge as problems in their relationships they themselves have thought but do not have the courage to actually verbalize to one another so they play as a sort of mediator. The way the film tackles all of this while still being a smarty written witty comedy is a genius act of screenwriting as the laughs are genuine and it has some of the best comedy I have seen in a film within this decade and to be fair a lot of the laughs come out of the nervous and anxious nature of the characters and how greatly the actors execute the dialogue. The film is a single setting film and it uses the hell out of it and it never feels boring I phrased this film as the Russian nesting doll of a film because when you think its one thing it evolves into something else entirely and I love the layers just keep peeling and you are twisting and turning through this narrative. The film talks on a grand stage about what happens when you let other people help air out your insecurities and what that would do to your relationship going forward and the way this film tackles such deep rooted things while remaining comedically smart was such a tight rope walk that was done perfectly. 

Secondly, The performances in this film from the entire cast are exceptional! There have been very few times this decade where I can say that the entire cast was locked in and this is for sure one of them. Seth Rogen gives what I think may very well be the best performance in his film career as I still stand by the work he has given in the Studio is his career best but in terms of film yeah his work in this is easily his best for sure. He plays this very unhappy husband that uses his blunt honesty and disguises it as passive jokes to speak his mind and Seth brings him to the screen with such emotional sincerity that you cannot look away. Then you have Olivia Wilde who plays this very hurt wife that just wants to be seen for the first time in a long time and the way Olivia plays out that pain was so raw and relatable for many viewing her character i love how she tries to reason with him and tell him her feels but he is so stuck in his ways he won’t listen and that frustration is so genuinely brought to the screen in a tornado of emotions. Then you have Penelope Cruz that has this sexy and alluring screen presence and she and Norton embody what Wilde and Seth want to be as they are so sure about themselves and their is a sense of resentment against them as their jealous at how happy and secure emotionally they are in their relationship. Cruz brings such a great way of communicating her feelings in a way that feels both sensual without it outright being sexual but also having a tinge of flirtatious mystery to her which makes her so playful and I love how she operates in that. Then for Norton he plays this on the surface seems like a loveable idiot but as the film progresses we learn how much more complex he is and Edward sheds that skin so well and goes through so many parts of himself and really explores other sides of his heart in a role that I would say is one of the best of his career and by far the best role of the decade for him. Each actor is sensational and they all contribute greatly to the film and it feels like a masterclass in acting In so many ways the entire cast is perfect. 

Lastly, The Invite is one of the best films of the decade! The screenplay should be taught in writing classes for film in how to structure drama and comedy in a even balance without one feeling like its compromising the other as it crackles to life due to the script at the heart of it and it gets even better with these rich performances layered on top of it and the simple but stylistic nature of Wildes Direction with such heart, humour and raw emotion that explores the complications of relationships in one of the best films of the year The Invite is truly a tremendous film that is one of the best theatre experiences I have had all year. I recommend anyone who loves a comedy with heart hitting themes to seek this out and see it on the big screen as I feel it benefits from the communal part of seeing it with a live audience. 

This film centres on a couple that dines their neighbours from upstairs what ever could go wrong? 

Rated R : Sexual Material, language throughout, and Drug Use 

Seth Rogen : Rogen is extraordinary in this! Now what I love about what Seth has been doing specifically this decade is he is carving such a interesting pivot from his usual comedies and has been doing a lot of great dramatic stuff from working with Spielberg on the Fabelman’s to the anxiety filled show the studio and then even the comedy with a heart Good fortune to now this he has been on a great amount of work as an actor that I could say is his most impressive decade of his career due to the vast amount of range he has explored in these 6 years already. He plays this overly grumpy easily agitated husband that refuses to listen to reason regardless how much his wife asks him to be more considerate. He thinks that she does not hear anything he says as when he voices his frustrations on the neighbours he says how inconsiderate their being and she sees it very differently she views them as a product of what to be like instead of being envious he tries to understand throughout the whole film why she idolizes them so much and that frustration and built up anger just keeps bubbling and bubbling until it eventually spills over. The way Seth is able to communicate that kind of restrained anger without revealing It until much later is so amazingly shown either through his eyes and the passive small comments he makes that they just let bounce off them without letting it truly bother them which just makes him want to do it even more until he can elicit a reaction damaging enough that it will finally gain something for him out of it. Seth is amazing at not looking down on this character that is so cynical and judgmental he is able to see the reasoning in why he feels the way he does as their are justified reasons why he is so upset but he is going about them the wrong way that is the thing and I like how Seth is able to bring that conversation about the character to the table. Seth Sure he delivers that signature comedy we have known to expect from him but their are a lot of times in this film he threw me for a surprise by deeply emotional he gets he digs into his personal experiences and puts his heart on display in ways we have never seen from him before and it had me awestruck how he moved me to almost tears. You can see that he just wants to feel that his points are being acknowledged but because she as he views it wants to be liked by these people she will not see ever what he is trying to communicate so their is this Permeant miscommunication going on that won’t ever be fully understood and that is the frustrating part from his end of things and he just cannot seem to fully get behind what she says and that is why they clash so much. Seth is able to go toe to toe with Olivia in a verbal assault of the minds in a way that is humorous sure but in many ways its tragic as they used to be so in love and have sadly dissolved into something so hateful. Rogen shines in a performance that is both comedically well tuned and greatly timed for his remarks but also is greatly impactful in displaying a very human element of him that has not been the primary focus like this maybe ever in a career best performance that I applaud him for as he truly is terrific in a ensemble of great talent that rises to the occasion to give a career best performance. 

Olivia Wilde : Now Olivia I love her as an actress I think she tends to get overlooked for her Ability to do amazing improvisation she has great comedic timing and truly is a great well rounded performer that is more noticed nowadays for her artistic abilities behind the scenes and not much in front of the camera which to her credit I am glad she is getting applauded on both fronts now but she gives one of her strongest hours as an actor in her work in the Invite. Now a film she did a long time ago that I think goes totally unnoticed by many is her work in the indie film Drinking Buddies which was all improv which is crazy when you think of that but her work in that was great as it was a drama and comedy about a friend dynamic and I was hoping she would pursue more roles like that so when I heard she was doing this I got excited with this much great talent to bounce off of it would create such a creative environment for her to just experiment and play around as an actor when she is not directing. Olivia brings a tremendous amount of emotional strain within her eyes and the vulnerability peels further and further back as the the film continues as in the beginning of the film you can see she is trying her best to make it work with her husband and try to give him the chance to really redeem himself even if it was in small ways but as she expected in her heart he won’t change and realizing that you see in real time as she has grown quite resentful due to his lack of affection if it was emotional or psychical and she longs to feel noticed and seen in any capacity so her willingness to be excited for a dinner party is her first time feeling quite alive in a while as she has none of that in her current relationship. When Hawk and her walk around the house and he shows genuine interest in her conversation topics she is thrown for a loop as she has not seen a man in any way want to genuinely know her opinions on things so you can sense the attraction she has even if he does not notice it you can feel that spark of a connection growing stronger. I love how Olivia is able to deliver such a emotionally devastating performance in many ways but done in a way that feels not repetitive of roles of this nature we have seen in other films about broken relationships she is able to access the character through her pain and just sit in it and essentially open up that wound and use maybe even personal experiences towards the character to give it more of a pop onscreen that just sticks with you. With each line and the way her eyes linger on a character feels so raw and honest in her execution of it and she walks between embarrassing emotion and then heartache and is able to meld those two in a way that just works for the role and she is able to present those feelings amazingly well. Olivia is tremendous in the film giving what I would go as far as saying is her finest work as an actor she is truly sensational! 

Penelope Cruz : Cruz has a great seductive and emotionally mysterious presence in this film! Cruz is one of those actors that whatever she is in she commits to it 100% I do think her impact on the screen gets taken for advantage as she is truly a sensational performer that is one of the best. Cruz plays this very alluring personality and she leans into that area for the audience to be on guard of what she will do with these people in the apartment is she there as a friend? Or is she trying to flirt there is so much complexity to her character and she gets so much to do in terms of character work. The best stuff she gives in terms of her character is in the last 30 minutes as for the first two acts she is very clam and does a lot of performing with her eyes where she tells you what she is thinking in the moment but leaves the audience in the dark of what her next move will be. I love the unpredictability of it all and then by the third act she just goes off on a emotional rampage toward this couple and tells them what they need to know and leaves nothing on the table and it is honestly amazing I love that Penelope can play this character with so many sides and just really chew the scenery when you have 3 other actors giving some of the best work of their careers as well. Cruz makes her role memorable and really got me in total awe of how she moved within a scene even If it was little subtleties that she brought to the character. Cruz is funny but in a way that is dry but the kernel of humour is very much there along with this seductive nature of her that just catches you within moments of seeing her and then she switches it up to this hard hitting emotional hammer that just beats you over the head with it in the best way. Cruz is incredible and delivers a brilliant supporting performance that is among one of the best characters she has ever brought to the screen. 

Edward Norton : I mean this with my whole body this character he gives us is the best performance of his in years now I have yet to see his work in a complete unknown but I will say I haven’t seen him this emotionally striking like this in a while and I think he is a solid actor that really never got the break he deserved within the industry. The way this character is written could of easily of been someone that is comic relief and played one note you know within seconds of seeing him onscreen what I mean and in the hands of any other actor it would of gone down that way but Norton understood what Olivia was going for with this personality and he gave the comic numbness of the character while showing later on that he is so much more then what you see him from face value. I like as just as Penelope is much more then what your eyes are telling you Norton is the same he has this annoying itch like persona that just chews at you and annoys you but in a lovable way but I love that Edward knew exactly the awkward social manner to bring to this role that wouldn’t make it annoying or repetitive within the first 10 minutes. It is a always evolving character that is genuinely interested in human connection but has a unique way of expressing that in which can make him come across as unusual and I love that though as Norton really also got a great moment within the second act to just devastate the entire environment with a monologue that brought the room to tears and changes the entire perception of how you see him going forward after that. The story of how he got his name had me in total awe and the fact Norton wrote that entire thing for his character on his own is even more staggering but Norton delivers a dead pan wit to the character but a subtle emotional sadness behind his eyes that you feel with each look and smile across his face that feels forced to be there or else he will cry. Norton delivers a performance that is not as flashy as Seth and Olivia’s but I do know that people have been talking about how great he is which I am so glad to see as he deserves all the recognition he can get from this as he just lures you in with this stilted charm that is stitched into the characters heart and he just exposes it bare and he is truly amazing in each frame of this giving some of the best work he has ever done Norton is essential! 

Olivia Wilde : Now the way in which Olivia brought this film together felt like a homage to films of the 70’s and I cannot stress that enough she has captured such a beautiful piece about the stress of relationships and the strain it has a couple if they do not air out their issues it will only come out in uglier ways with others feeling the need to tell them and be forced to acknowledge it. It has the chaotic editing of as I mentioned of a Danny Boyle picture and the emotional heart of a Sidney Lumet film. And the way she utilizes space and really makes the apartment feel like a character within itself is truly phenomenal. What is especially amazing I want to point out is that she never lets her previous films overlap into her other projects each one of them feel so tonally different then the other and I love she likes making new narratives and not repeating the old formulas from past experiences but instead using the tools she used on those films to enhance future projects. The Invite is her Virginia Wolf and the way she captures the anxiety riddled nature within a singular setting is tremendous as she gives the actors and herself the room to play without it feeling like a stage play but at the same time be a great showcase for the performers to do what they need to in order to properly bring these characters to life in the way she needs them to. Everyone gave their all from top to bottom but what was really a big impression on me was her commentary on resentment in relationships and how if gone unspoken can create a incredibly unlovable environment that  to them they just accept but to outsiders can be deemed as so toxic and hateful but shown through the lens of dead pan comedy with hard hitting truths that just hit you like a freight train. Wilde gives exceptional direction and style that never feels over indulgent but rather subtle in the way she brings her spin on the human connection and the fractures within it I love the way each actor bounces off one other in terms of rhythm and dialogue it is one of the best directed films of the year that just blew me away I am astonished with what she accomplished here and I will be there opening night for her next project she is a astonishing filmmaker with such energy and you can tell in all the frames of this picture she adores filmmaking and it shows in the work Wilde is sensational behind the camera.