Venice Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday night with the splashy premiere of “Ink,” an explosive drama from director Danny Boyle about the rise of Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid empire.
The film, which stars Jack O’Connell as The Sun editor Larry Lamb and Guy Pearce as media mogul Rupert Murdoch, was met with a short-but-sweet standing ovation of nearly four-and-a-half minutes. O’Connell appeared to joke about the marathon applause with Boyle, prompting laughs from his co-stars Claire Foy and Pearce.
At Venice, it’s become customary for audiences to clap and cheer for what can feel like forever after the credits roll at premieres. In the case of “Ink,” the hoopla may have been cut short because O’Connell and Foy, who stars as a fictional journalist, seemingly had enough and began to walk back to their seats, collect their belongings and head for the exit. That’s after festival director Alberto Barbera tried to extend the clapping by telling the cast to move up on the stairs inside the Palazzo del Cinema, where the screening was held. They obliged, but only for a few moments.
“Ink” premiered on Wednesday evening after a tribute to George Clooney, who was honored with a life achievement award. Clooney and his wife Amal walked the red carpet along with O’Connell, Pearce, Foy and Boyle. Other A-listers, like Jonathan Bailey, were also in attendance. They dutifully signed autographs and posed for selfies with the superfans (some of whom had camped out overnight for a prime spot in front of the red carpet) before heading into the Sala Grande Theatre for some needed air conditioning. It was so hot and humid on Lido that O’Connell took off his Dunhill coat and handed it to a publicist before blotting the sweat on his face and white shirt with paper towels.
