Commentary

FILM REVIEW: Arctic

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Penna and co-writer Ryan Morrison have given this bone-chilling adventure a very simple premise: Man against nature, man against himself.

Published

7 years ago

February 8, 2019

Oakland Post

By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Film Critic

English singer/writer David Gray released a very evocative song in 2014 called “Birds of the High Arctic.” The verse is about a lost lover and the poignant refrain says: They’re calling. Like the birds of the high Arctic. “This darling. For the light in your eyes sparked it. Two sheets to the wind.” In just a few words and with a pleading voice Gray conjures visions of the cold barren Arctic that are indelible and haunting.

Mads Mikkelsen stars as Overgård in ARCTIC, a Bleecker Street release.
Credit: Helen Sloan SMPSP / Bleecker Street

First-time filmmaker Joe Penna is a musician who created the internationally popular YouTube channel, MysteryGuitarMan. The channel became a viral sensation and he amassed two million followers. He’s shot commercials (Coca Cola and McDonald’s) and short films (Turning Point). Arctic pulls his skills into the feature-film format where he demonstrates the basic mechanics of filmmaking but not the artistry. Nothing sticks with you, nothing is visually stunning or memorable.

Overgård (Mads Mikkelsen, The Hunt, Casino Royale) is stranded in the Arctic. His only shelter is what’s left of his plane, which crashed into the icy, barren wilderness. To add a grain of sanity to his endless days and nights, he keeps a routine. According to periodic alarms on his watch, he gets up, fishes, works on a rescue sign and looks for a radio signal. He confronts the freezing elements and the occasional stare of a polar bear. It’s a lonely, melancholic existence that won’t change unless there is a new stimulus. That spark comes after a rescue helicopter crashes, leaving another survivor (Maria Thelma Smáradóttir, Prisoners). Now Overgård is fighting the elements and making life-saving choices for two.

Penna and co-writer Ryan Morrison have given this bone-chilling adventure a very simple premise: Man against nature, man against himself. You don’t see the plane crash. There is no backstory. You don’t know how the central character got himself into such a bleak situation, or why he has superior survival skills and can fix electronics. The writers and director don’t let viewers put the protagonist’s dilemma into perspective, and that’s a gutsy or foolhardy choice, depending. Still, the set-up and location is so unique that many will go along on this improbable excursion, regardless.

Mads Mikkelsen stars as Overgård in ARCTIC, a Bleecker Street release.
Credit: Helen Sloan SMPSP / Bleecker Street

Penna’s direction is adequate. No major mistakes. No fits of genius. Cinematographer Tómas Örn Tómasson (Pacific Rim: Uprising) has missed an opportunity to make the wintry scenes look gorgeous or ghostly. Instead, it’s as if he shot the unexciting footage on a smartphone. Ryan Morrison’s editing manages a solid tempo for 97 minutes. Joseph Trapanese (Straight Outta Compton) creates a musical score that stays in the background and never intrudes. The tech aspects are neither a credit or a hindrance.

With a cast of just two actors and virtually no dialogue, the weight of the film rests on veteran Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen. Most of the time he has no one to talk to. It’s just him, pulling the story forward and making his emotions (fear, anger, courage, indecision, regret) the central focus. Facial expressions, his walk and other non-verbal communications give his character depth. There are many instances that require Overgård to make monumental choices and live with the consequences. You can see the gravity of those decisions in Mikkelsen’s eyes.

The film doesn’t display a brutal, raw realism that blows your mind. The finale is fitting, not a shocker that will make your heart race (The Vanishing, 1988). The climax is not an escape from a deadly situation, although there are a few of those. Instead, the most dramatic, stomach-turning scene is when the protagonist must come to terms with the karma he faces for putting his needs first. This is the “aha” moment when the thin screenplay finds another dimension and Penna proves he’s more than just a trendy YouTube video entrepreneur.

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Arctic has a very similar feel to the James Franco film 127 Hours, where a hiker gets himself stuck in-between two boulders and resorts to cutting off part of his arm to escape. The hubris in that character made it a challenge to empathize with his dilemma. Overgård is humble and likable throughout.

There isn’t anything gross or repugnant about what’s on view, like in the disaster movie Alive, when a Uruguayan rugby team ate each other to stay live. Audiences looking for a basic survival film will likely be satiated. Penna’s simple storytelling and perfunctory direction is tolerable and Mikkelsen’s stirring performance brings what’s on view up a notch.

Arctic doesn’t have a long-lasting impact. Without artistry and an indelible atmospheric impression, it’s just another film you’ll vaguely remember. What’s missing is the kind of haunting feeling sensitive artists like David Gray can conjure.

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.

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Activism

Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

21 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.

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Activism

2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Lori Wilson — Advocate for Equity, the Environment, and More

Her rise has also included several historic firsts: she is the only Black woman ever appointed to lead the influential Assembly Transportation Committee, and the first freshman legislator elected Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. She has also been a vocal advocate for vulnerable communities, becoming the first California legislator to publicly discuss being the parent of a transgender child — an act of visibility that has helped advanced representation at a time when political tensions related to social issues and culture have intensified.

Published

22 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City). File photo.

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) joined the California Legislature in 2022 after making history as Solano County’s first Black female mayor, bringing with her a track record of fiscal discipline, community investment, and inclusive leadership.

She represents the state’s 11th Assembly District, which spans Solano County and portions of Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties.

California Black Media spoke with Wilson about her successes and disappointments this year and her outlook for 2026.

What stands out as your most important achievement this year?

Getting SB 237 passed in the Assembly. I had the opportunity to co-lead a diverse workgroup of colleagues, spanning a wide range of ideological perspectives on environmental issues.

How did your leadership contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians this year?

The Black Caucus concentrated on the Road to Repair package and prioritized passing a crucial bill that remained incomplete during my time as chair, which establishes a process for identifying descendants of enslaved people for benefit eligibility.

What frustrated you the most this year?

The lack of progress made on getting Prop 4 funds allocated to socially disadvantaged farmers. This delay has real consequences. These farmers have been waiting for essential support that was promised. Watching the process stall, despite the clear need and clear intent of the voters, has been deeply frustrating and reinforces how much work remains to make our systems more responsive and equitable.

What inspired you the most this year?

The resilience of Californians persists despite the unprecedented attacks from the federal government. Watching people stay engaged, hopeful, and determined reminded me why this work matters and why we must continue to protect the rights of every community in our state.

What is one lesson you learned this year that will inform your decision-making next year?

As a legislator, I have the authority to demand answers to my questions — and accept nothing less. That clarity has strengthened my approach to oversight and accountability.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians are facing currently?

Affordability and access to quality educational opportunities.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

Advance my legislative agenda despite a complex budget environment. The needs across our communities are real, and even in a tight fiscal year, I’m committed to moving forward policies that strengthen safety, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life for the people I represent.

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Activism

2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Champion of Reparations, Housing and Workers’ Rights

In 2025, McKinnor pushed forward legislation on renters’ protections, re-entry programs, reparations legislation, and efforts to support Inglewood Unified School District. She spoke with California Black Media about the past year and her work. Here are her responses.

Published

22 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood). File photo.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) represents

California’s 61st Assembly District.

As a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC),

McKinnor was elected in 2022. She chairs the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation and leads the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee. McKinnor also served as a civic engagement director, managed political campaigns, and worked as chief of staff for former Assemblymembers Steven Bradford and Autumn Burke.

Looking back on 2025, what do you see as your biggest win?

Assembly Bill (AB) 628. If rent is $3,000, people should at least have a stove and a refrigerator. It’s ridiculous that people were renting without basic appliances.

I’m also proud that I was able to secure $8.4 million in the state budget for people coming home from incarceration. That includes the Homecoming Project, the menopause program for incarcerated women, and the Justice Leaders Program.

How did your leadership help make life better for Black Californians this year?

After the Eaton Fire, I pushed to get the same kind of support for affected areas that wealthier regions get after disasters.

I also did a lot of work building political power— establishing the Black Legacy PAC and California for All of Us PAC so we could support Black candidates and educate voters. We also called voters to make sure they understood Prop 50.

People need to understand this: there are only 12 Black legislators in the Capitol. Folks act like we can just walk in and pass reparations, but that’s not how it works.

What frustrated you most this year?

The governor did not have the political will to sign these bills: AB 57 and AB 62. They both passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly and the Senate. We did the work. The only person who didn’t have the political will to sign them was the governor.

The public needs to ask the governor why he didn’t sign the bills. We can’t keep letting people off the hook. He has to answer.

I also introduced AB 51 — the bill to eliminate interest payments on Inglewood Unified School District’s long-standing state loan — held in the Appropriations Committee. That was frustrating,

What inspired you most in 2025?

The civil rights trip to Alabama was life changing. We visited the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. We took members of the Black, Latino, Jewish, and API caucuses with us. It changed all of us.

People aren’t always against us — they just don’t know our history.

What’s one lesson from 2025 that will shape how you approach decisions next year?

The legislative trip to Norway taught me that collaboration matters. Government, labor, and industry sit down together there. They don’t make villains. Everybody doesn’t get everything they want, but they solve problems.

What’s the biggest challenge facing Black Californians in one word?

Inequity. It shows up in housing, wealth, stress – all these things.

What’s the number one goal you want to accomplish in 2026?

Bringing back AB 57 and AB 62, and securing money for the Inglewood Unified loan interest forgiveness.