Rights holder / Distributor: STUDIOCANAL / Netflix
„Ink“" (literal translation: Ink) is a British-French-American biographical drama with elements of a thriller, directed by Danny Boyle according to the scenario of James Graham, adapted his own play of the same name. The film had its world premiere on September 2, 2026, as the opening film of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The production has a running time of 116 minutes and focuses on Guy Pearce, Jack O'Connell and Claire Foy.
The story takes us back to London in 1969, when Australian media entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch acquires the struggling newspaper The Sun. To turn it into a publication capable of attracting a mass audience, he turns to ambitious journalist Larry Lamb. The two begin to build an entirely new model of tabloid journalism, based on sensational headlines, provocative stories, and topics that the average reader cannot ignore.
Larry Lamb gradually transforms The Sun into a publication that breaks the established rules and challenges the traditional British press. But success comes at a price. As circulation grows, the greater the dependence on scandal, provocation and stories that evoke strong emotions. The film follows this process without revealing all its consequences and raises the important question of where journalistic freedom ends and where the manipulation of public attention begins.
One of the interesting lines in "„Ink“" is about changing the very understanding of news. Instead of simply informing the reader, the new "The Sun" begins to offer content that is designed to be noticed, discussed and sold. It is this transformation that makes the story particularly relevant today, when the struggle for attention is an integral part not only of journalism, but also of television, the Internet and social networks.
Danny Boyle approaches the material with his characteristic energy. Instead of a traditional and static biographical drama, he creates a fast, noisy and visually aggressive work that resembles the pace of the tabloid world itself. The camera, editing, music and graphic solutions transform the editorial office of "The Sun" into a constantly moving news machine. It is this style that is among the most often noted merits of the film.
The direction also reveals familiar features from the director's earlier films. Danny Boyle – a fast pace, a strong musical presence and a penchant for visual exaggeration. This approach works particularly well in the scenes depicting the creation of the new tabloid, because the viewer can practically feel the chaos, ambition and competition in the editorial office. However, some critics believe that Boyle's style is sometimes too intrusive and that the script of James Graham does not always manage to balance this energy.
As Larry Lamb Jack O'Connell is one of the strongest elements in the film. He builds a character who is at once charismatic, aggressive, ambitious and convinced that traditional rules must be broken. It is his performance that is among the most highly praised by critics, with "Screen" defining him as a magnetic presence that keeps the film in the spotlight.
Guy Pearce presents Rupert Murdoch in a more restrained way. Instead of a one-layered image of a ruthless media mogul, the actor shows a man who understands the power of the market and sees opportunity where others see failure. Claire Foy completes the main trio as Jules Davis – a character through whom the film also examines the moral contradictions surrounding the new journalistic model. The cast also includes Blake Harrison, Brian Gleeson, Angus Imrie, Patrick Kennedy, Lucy Russell and Christopher Fulford.
„Ink“" is at its strongest when it doesn't simply try to tell the story of the rise of a successful tabloid, but shows how media culture itself is changing. The film raises the uncomfortable question of whether the media is starting to give people what they want, or is gradually starting to shape what people want. It's here that the 1969 story takes on a distinctly contemporary ring. Critical response since Venice has been mostly positive, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a high rating from critics, though some reviewers found the film too loud or not critical enough of Murdoch himself.
Ultimately "„Ink“" is an ambitious and energetic biographical drama about one of the turning points in the history of British journalism. Danny Boyle turns the story into a dynamic cinematic experience, and Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy provide a strong cast. The film doesn't necessarily offer a definitive answer to the moral cost of tabloid journalism, but it does successfully show how the pursuit of a larger audience can gradually change the very rules of the media game. For viewers who enjoy biographical stories about media, politics, and societal change, "„Ink“" is one of the more interesting headlines of 2026.
