Danny Boyle's 'Ink' Receives Strong Early Reviews at Venice Film Festival
The tabloid drama 'Ink', directed by Danny Boyle and depicting the rise of The Sun, has opened the Venice Film Festival to largely positive critical response, with particular praise for its performances.
Danny Boyle’s new film "Ink", a dramatization of the early days of Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloid The Sun, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The story, set in 1969, follows Murdoch’s acquisition of the newspaper and his partnership with editor Larry Lamb, portrayed by Jack O’Connell, as they transform the paper into a dominant tabloid.
Early reviews have been favorable, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 92% approval rating based on twelve critiques. Critics highlighted the lead performances, with Deadline’s Pete Hammond describing the acting as “sensational” and noting that O’Connell and Pearce “have never been better”.
The Times gave the film four out of five stars, praising its visual style and the way director Boyle brings James Graham’s script to life. The Daily Telegraph also awarded four stars, likening the series to a British version of "Mad Men". Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri called the drama “electrifying” and suggested it could be Boyle’s best work in decades, while Screen International and Variety commended the gripping performances and called the film “sizzling”.
IndieWire offered a more measured B rating, acknowledging the predictability of the film’s themes but emphasizing the strength of its cast. The Guardian assigned three stars, recognizing O’Connell’s performance but critiquing the movie’s overtly violent and stylistically heavy approach.