Some Hollywood premieres end when the lights come up. Others simply change locations.
That was the case for A24’s “The Invite,” which celebrated its Los Angeles premiere at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theater in West Hollywood before the evening continued just minutes away at one of the city’s most legendary locations, Chateau Marmont.
The transition felt almost cinematic. Guests left the screening behind and entered a setting that has long existed outside the rhythms of modern Hollywood. Around the hotel’s famous pool and one of its intimate bungalows, filmmakers, actors, producers and industry insiders gathered beneath towering palms, surrounded by illuminated sculptural cubes that softly framed the water, glowing gardens and strands of warm café lights.
Few places carry the mythology of Chateau Marmont. Opened in 1929 and inspired by France’s Château d’Amboise, the landmark hotel has served as a discreet retreat for generations of movie stars, directors and musicians. Stories of Greta Garbo, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and countless Academy Award winners are woven into its history, while decades of ghost stories have only deepened its mystique. Nearly a century after opening its doors, Chateau Marmont remains one of the few places in Los Angeles where Hollywood’s past and present coexist effortlessly.
It was a fitting backdrop for a film equally interested in what unfolds behind closed doors.
Directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, “The Invite” is an English-language adaptation of Cesc Gay’s acclaimed Spanish work, “The People Upstairs.” It was adapted for the screen by Rashida Jones, daughter of Quincy, and Will McCormack. Their screenplay is witty, emotionally perceptive and remarkably authentic, transforming an intimate premise into a thoughtful exploration of modern relationships.
The story centers on two couples brought together for what appears to be an ordinary dinner inside a San Francisco apartment. As the evening progresses, casual conversation slowly gives way to uncomfortable truths, unexpected confessions and questions about love, trust, desire and the fragile compromises that define long-term relationships.
One of “The Invite’s” most remarkable achievements is that the entire film unfolds inside a single apartment, a creative choice that never feels restrictive or repetitive. The film maintains an irresistible rhythm thanks to the superb performances of its ensemble, the wonderfully calibrated screenplay and the razor-sharp editing by Yorgos Mavropsaridis, the Oscar-nominated longtime collaborator of Yorgos Lanthimos, working alongside editor Anthony Boys. Combined with Olivia Wilde’s most confident directorial effort to date, the result is a film that feels intimate yet consistently cinematic.
The ensemble is exceptional. Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton and Wilde herself deliver performances built less on dramatic flourishes than on emotional precision, timing and honesty.
Beyond its commercial appeal, “The Invite” already possesses many of the qualities that often resonate during awards season. It is still too early to predict where this year’s race will ultimately lead, but its screenplay, ensemble performances, editing and assured direction certainly make it a film worth watching as conversations begin to build toward the Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards.
As guests continued gathering around the pool long after the screening had ended, it became clear that the setting itself had become part of the evening’s story. The glowing gardens, the understated elegance, the quiet conversations and the timeless character of Chateau Marmont created an atmosphere that felt increasingly rare in today’s Hollywood, one built on genuine connection rather than performance.
If “The Invite” celebrates the quiet complexities of human relationships, Chateau Marmont continues to celebrate something equally enduring: Hollywood’s ability to create unforgettable moments without ever announcing them too loudly. Together, the film and the venue formed a perfect pairing: a premiere that celebrated not only an outstanding new release from A24, but also the timeless magic, mystery and effortless cool that continue to define one of Hollywood’s most legendary landmarks.
George Sats is a Los Angeles-based entertainment journalist, television host and producer. The creator and host of “Buzz,” one of Greece’s longest-running entertainment television programs, he is also the former Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment Weekly Greece and a contributor to Harper’s Bazaar Greece, Esquire Greece and the Beverly Hills Courier. As Greece’s official Oscars broadcaster, he has covered the entertainment industry’s most prestigious events, including the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards. He is also a member of the Golden Globe Awards voting body. Throughout his career, George has interviewed most of Hollywood’s leading actors, filmmakers and industry figures while reporting from major red carpets, film festivals and international entertainment events. He previously hosted MTV Greece’s Movies & Stars.
