Suncoast

I wasn't enthusiastic with the entire story, yet this still was a very good movie. Nico Parker is a gifted and beautiful young actress, and her scenes with Woody Harrelson were endearing.

The crux of this film involves Doris' mission to be independent and lead a normal life. This plan is sidelined as Doris is forced to spend overnights at the Suncoast hospice facility, where her cancer-stricken brother is on his deathbed. She has to decide whether to enjoy her teen years (i.e. Going to prom or clubbing with her preppy friend group) or spend time with her mother and brother. Seeing Doris assert her independence during this family tragedy was what made this movie worthwhile.

There were some fluff high school class/party scenes throughout the movie that didn't resonate with me. I also think having more focus on Paul's personal struggle was necessary. But I ultimately smiled right before the final credits rolled.

Life is full of highs and lows, emotions are constantly in flux, and it isn't always so cut and dry on how we should be feeling. Suncoast captures those feelings while reminding us of the coming-of-age issues we've all faced. Semi-autobiographical, the director/writer based the story around her youth and her family's experiences in the early 2000s. With illness, protests, and the challenges of growing up, Suncoast brings its audience on an all-too-real journey.

Growing up in Florida, Doris (Nico Parker) and her family are in the midst of a personal tragedy. Her brother Max (Cree Kawa), suffering from brain cancer, is left in an unresponsive state, having to be cared for by his sister and mother, Kristine (Laura Linney). Admitting him to the Suncoast hospice facility, Kristine loses herself in her son's illness, as Doris makes attempts to explore her youth. With Max being cared for in the same facility as Terri Schiavo, the protests and national news loom throughout the background of their lives. Craving a 'normal' childhood, Doris is torn between her two worlds, standing at a crossroads in her life.

At the beginning of a blossoming career, Nico Parker skillfully tackles the emotional challenges of her complex character. Exploring teenage escapades, she expresses a realistic sense of wonder, while balancing it with the emotional toll she faces from her brother's illness. Echoing that heavy toll, Laura Linney adds dramatic layers to her intense performance as a mother, grieving her son before he passes. Adding levity to the emotional tale, Woody Harrelson acts as a friendly face, coping with his own underlying trauma. Through delightful and relatable performances, the cast elevates each other, as they bring the director's experiences to the cinema.

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Suncoast Letterboxd Q&A early screening with director/writer Laura Chinn. During the session, Chinn revealed that while writing the film in 2018, Nico Parker was her original model for the character of Doris, though too young for the role. Throughout the long production, Parker eventually aged into the role which fulfilled Chinn's initial vision. Additionally, Chinn expressed that she hopes her representations of grief can relate to viewers and help people in similar circumstances.

Capturing the director's challenging story, Suncoast provides a meaningful glimpse into her life, while respectfully honoring her brother's battle with cancer. The performances of the cast carefully work to deepen the issues and bring relatability to the character's journeys. Though emotionally heavy, Suncoast excels at crafting a balance between grief and youthful adventure.

As someone who was coming of age in this time frame, I felt that the director nailed it. The casting was realistic, raw, and told an important story within a story. I disagree with the other reviewer who said that the script was afraid to go deep and remained cliché. There are not enough movies like this. Everything is trying to preach to us nowadays and that's not what this was - and its refreshing. If you look at the parallels between the ethics class and the statement made by Doris, about only understanding ethics or knowing what we believe when we are actually in that moment is so true. There is so much empathy for the character of the mother, but more so for the character arc of the daughter. Remembering what it would be like to be 17-year-old not wanting to miss out on all the important things to an average teen, but also having to deal with end of life is just something that may not resonate with everyone but its a human story. And you don't have to agree with the issues, but you have empathy for the character and nonetheless.

7.0/10 (Recommend)

I don't think the synopsis for this film clearly explains what this movie is about to the extent that it could. Part of me thought that it was going to be all about protests and just a surface style relationship between Doris (Nico Parker) and Paul (Woody Harrelson), but it is so much deeper than that.

While the story surrounds the brother's medical condition and another patients medical condition it isn't the focal point. The story is about a girl trying to find her place without upsetting those around her.

Nico Parker did a great job in my opinion as she went from quiet, shy, and awkward to more vocal and courageous about herself and her circumstances. Kristine played by Laura Linney was a lot easier to hate than to like, but you realize the circumstances compounded some of her decisions. The manipulation and guilt she puts on her daughter never sits right especially due to the outcome of the film.

This film is very relatable particularly if you've ever lost someone you love and care about. It gave me a gut punch as I couldn't be with my grandma at the end of her life and so the emotions of that time came back. It goes along with the phrase "say what you need to say now cause there may never be a later time to say it".

I think this film is rated 'R' for its real life portrayal of underage drinking, clubbing, drugs, and sexual innuendos. It doesn't go into the most horrendous portrayal of those acts, but because it's shown, the parental rating is higher. If you can get past that and understand that it happens in real life then this film is definitely worth watching.

That's all for now. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Until next time.... Enjoy the show!

Beautiful film. Grief is always an emotional topic to write about and portray in any form of media. There's so much that goes with it, and only those who have personally dealt with it can truly paint the right picture. The acting is all great, especially the main actor, Nico Parker, who does a great job. I saw her in The Last of Us last year, and she gets even more of a chance to prove her artistry here. It's at times difficult to get through, but there are those more lighthearted moments that delve into what it's like to be a teenager. I'm reminded of the Andrew Garfield interview he did with Stephen Colbert, where he talked about the grief he felt about his recently deceased mother. Grief is powerful, yet it is a representation of love and all that it encompasses.