User reviews

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.

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.

3 out of 5 stars.

Suncoast is a fair coming of age drama film that gives great performances with the cast ensemble.

A tough story about a teenage girl trying to be a normal teen in high school. While struggling with grief with her brother being terminally ill. And her controlling mother struggling with losing him.

It is a tough story. While Nico Parker did a great job. Same with Woody Harrelson. The film can be emotional. It is a strong drama with her growing up. But missing out as a teen. Thats also the one thing the film struggles is missing out on that direction on what happened to her and her friends. The script felt undeveloped.

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.

As "Suncoast" (2024 release; 109 min.) opens, we are in "Clearwater, Florida", and highschooler Doris and her mom are transferring Doris' brother into a hospice facility called Suncoast, by happenstance the very same one where the Terri Schiavo drama is playing out. Doris is stressed out by her hard-charging mom and the overall situation... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the directing debut of actress Laura Chinn, who in essence is bring her own story to the screen. Laura Linney plays the mom who is, let's just say, not a very likeable character. Woody Harrelson plays Paul, an well-meaning eccentric who befriends Doris. British actress Nico Parker ("The Last of US") plays Doris. The film is not bad, but suffers from a rather uneven script, going on a dime from a "Mean Girls" reminding scene into dealing with life-ending situations. I had forgotten all about the Terri Schiavo situation, which made national headlines in the early 00s.

"Suncoast" premiered a few weeks ago at the Sundance film festival, and is now streaming on Hulu, where I caught it a few evenings ago. If you are in the mood for a coming-of-age while also looking at how to deal with loss, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

I wish first-time director and writer Laura Chinn could have taken greater risks with this 2024 coming-of-age drama because it felt heartfelt yet fairly predictable. It's a highly personal story set in 2005 based on Chinn's own adolescent experience of losing her teenage brother to cancer. Her fictional stand-in is Doris, a withdrawn and resentful teen constantly reprimanded by her emotionally exhausting mother Christine, who decides to move her comatose son to hospice care as he slowly succumbs to brain cancer. It turns out to be the same hospice facility where Terry Schiavo is under care, and right-to-life protestors surround the building under the scrutiny of the media. Laura Linney plays Christine as almost an older version of her controlling character in the memorable "You Can Count on Me", but she's more fearless here in her monomaniacal devotion to her son. Still, it's Nico Parker who carries the film as Doris nicely conveying both preternatural maturity and gawky angst as a social outcast looking to fit in with her new friends. Woody Harrelson plays a protestor who bonds with Doris, but the Schiavo parallels are largely unexamined and consequently Harrelson is used more as an incidental father figure.

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.

The name of the movie and the name of the Hospice, that is one of the major locations of the movie is a big misleader for the viewers, before they even start watching the movie. It is described as a light and almost fun movie, but it carries a ton of emotions and reactions, that are more connected to a heavyweight drama.

It is also categorized as such Drama, but both genres mesh together in a successful way, which pulls out reactions that are both funny and heartbreaking. The leading and young actress does a fantastic work, as she shines over two massive actors and does it gracefully and almost without stretching her acting to the limits.

It is a story of so many lost elements, that are challenging the lives of two main characters. One has lost her sanity and ability to smile or care about anyone; the other lost a large portion of her youth, innocence and almost became numb for a large range of feelings.

In the background we can see several elements that aren't handled properly, such as the weird and almost detached and unexplained relationship with an older man, that has lost his wife and now stands and struggles for one that cannot speak or be heard.

Woody Harrelson is pretty good in his role, but his character seems off and not connected to the movie more then a name for the cast and an extension for the plot, that won't go deeper. Laura Linney's character is pretty flat and she is at one of her worst and annoying performances ever, regardless to the fact she needs to act an annoying character.

Over both of them we can find Niko Parker; AKA Thandie Newton's daughter. She shines over all of them and she is the heart and sole of this movie. Hard to stay indifferent to this kind of performance and for this kind of movie, with all of his downsides. Its not an easy one, but it's a good one.

We have already seen these kinds of growing up movies, with a tragic side, that carries the weight of the story and almost tries to burst into each and every "normal" side of the movie, but it is not a movie you can easy forget or drop after watching it. Add the powerful performance from young Parker - don't miss it.

Right now this movie is scoring 6.7 and I'm not sure why isn't higher.

I was so impressed with Laura Linney from the get go and her scenes with Nico Parker were often overwhelming given how good they were.

Nico, keeps the ball rolling. And it's a heavy ball so props to her.

Woody Harrelson does.. what he does and he does more than fine.

I think it was a sweet, subtle, solid rendition of a weird coming of age story. Esteeming from a very dysfunctional situation for any teenager but that really shines through the observation of the mother figure and the absurdity of having to deal with life in those terms.

Laura Chinn's semi autobiographical drama is about her living with his terminally ill brother on his last days at an hospice and her need for more attention as a teenager, considering her mother devoted all her time on the brother. During this, Doris makes friends in her class and finds solace in brief interaction with an activist, outside the hospice. Torn between having to lead her own life and simultaneously having to pause it to prioritize her brother, Laura narrates a coming of age tale about handling grief and growing up with it.

It is indeed a touching story and Nico Parker as Doris was a perfect cast and she truly stands out in the climax. However, this definitely deserved a better screenplay as well as rounded characters. Laura Linney as Kristine, is reduced to a whiney mother who is completely ignorant towards her daughter. Sure, the circumstances does convey her behavior but it comes out as way too mean. Then there is Woody Harrelson's character which randomly appears few times to share his views with Doris and it looked deliberate. What does work is the life of Doris at school and late night parties, which is the way for her to earn friends and them being actually loyal ones. I wished the dramatic scenes to have been dealt the same way with neatly presented characters.

In my review of "Suncoast," I want to convey my deep emotional connection to the film, particularly towards the end. It's evident that the writer-director poured their heart into this project, crafting a poignant tribute to their brother. Their portrayal of pain and grief is not only heartfelt but also resonates deeply, underscoring the film's emotional core.

While "Suncoast" carries an important message and offers moments of genuine emotional power, its execution falls short in terms of character development and narrative coherence. The film struggles to fully integrate its components into a cohesive whole, leaving it feeling somewhat incomplete. Despite these critiques, I believe it's a movie worth watching for its heartfelt message and the emotional journey it endeavors to take its audience on. However, in my view, it doesn't quite achieve the rounded, well-crafted cinematic experience one might hope for.

'Suncoast' set itself up so well. All the pieces were perfectly put in place for a great movie. Then it stalled. And it stalled for a long time. It didn't really find itself again until the final 10 minutes of the film. I can't help wondering what some filmmakers could have done with that giant chunk of potential through the middle of this film.

We have a really likable lead character in 'Doris' and we have a conflicted and complex character in her mother, both dealing with a really traumatic situation. So much could have been done with this and yet it feels like we spend the entire film watching 'Doris' interact with her (incredibly uninteresting) friends. I get that that they may have been going for a coming of age story, but there are far more interesting ways to do that. No creativity went into those scenes whatsoever.

I feel like the film could've hugely benefited from some humour as well. It doesn't have to be over the top, but some genuine laughs here and there would've gone a long way. The film isn't bad by any means, but it really did get the least out of the concept it possibly could have. 6/10.

I am not sure how to feel about this true story film. It did not make complete sense. The crew could have created it better. The storyline of this true story film was a bit weak and a bit straightforward. The cast selection was fine enough. They deeply connected to their respective characters. The chemistry that was displayed between the cast members could have been better. This true story film reveals to viewers the real difficulties and struggles that are in the world of today. I can relate to those difficulties and struggles. I was born with a rare syndrome that is made up with a combination of numerous disabilities and numerous health issues and it never ends. This is a true story film that could have been better.

Suncoast (2024) feels like a cinematic equivalent of a lukewarm cup of tea - it has all the elements to be soothing and delightful, yet somehow misses the mark. The film ambitiously attempts to weave a semi-autobiographical tapestry of adolescence, illness, and unexpected camaraderie, but ends up feeling more like a patchwork quilt made by someone who forgot to thread the needle. It's not that it's bad, per se; it's just that it sits comfortably in the realm of "meh," a word I suspect might have been uttered in many a pitch meeting during its production.

The protagonist, with her brother's illness casting a shadow over her formative years, is poised to deliver a heart-wrenching performance. However, the emotional depth we're promised feels as deep as a puddle in the Sahara. Then there's the eccentric activist - a character who could have been a breath of fresh, rebellious air but instead comes off as the human equivalent of a quirky sock. Their unusual friendship, meant to be the film's emotional cornerstone, occasionally hits the right notes but often feels like listening to a symphony where half the orchestra didn't show up.

Why is Suncoast just okay? It's like a meal that fills you up but leaves you questioning whether you actually enjoyed it. The cinematography is decent, capturing the Suncoast's scenic beauty with a certain flair that suggests 'Instagram vacation' rather than 'cinematic masterpiece.' The soundtrack tries hard to be poignant, but at times it's reminiscent of elevator music - present, noticeable, but not particularly impactful. Ultimately, Suncoast is the kind of film you might half-watch on a plane, occasionally glancing out the window, and then forget by the time you've grabbed your luggage. It's not without its charms, but perhaps it's best suited for a niche audience that finds existential meaning in lukewarm beverages.

Nico Parker (daughter of Thandiwe Newton & Oliver Parker) stars in this Hulu original currently streaming. Taking place against the backdrop of the Terry Schaivo drama (a Florida woman who was on life support but when her husband wanted to take her off of it, it became a cause celebre on the news for arguments & protests), Parker's brother, Cree Kawa, is in the final throes of life & being moved from his home to a hospice facility, the same facility where Schaivo is awaiting her own fate. Already at odds w/her overbearing mother, Oscar nominee Laura Linney, who has essentially enlisted Parker to assist in Kawa's care supplanting her own life as she's the odd one out at school. Things change however on one level when she meets a protestor at the hospice, played by Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson, who tries to put into perspective where Parker's life is in now while at school she makes head way w/the cool clique by offering up her now empty home (since Linney spends all her time by Kawa's side) as a place to party even getting invited by the cool kid, Amarr, to the prom but Kawa's looming final end constantly plays in her head whether she likes it not. A little fey in its presentation (something I remember a Cameron Diaz starrer named My Sister's Keeper from 15 years ago did much better) which wants to embrace the horror of the situation in Parker's life w/the ridiculous circus that is high school peppered w/wise bon mots from Harrelson who becomes a defacto color commentator. Buoyed by the perfs of all the leads w/Parker, who I think is on her way to getting a breakout berth some time soon, this weak treacle still manages an anemic good time on the couch which is not saying much.

The dying boy, Max, controls the story, acknowledging that his illness holds the family hostage. Chinn's wit and self-pity make "Suncoast" is not just a film, it's a story about love, Family and overcoming obstacles, and a mother and daughter drive into the ethics of Death. Suncoast, a film premiered at Sundance 2024, is a broad, sunny Searchlight crowd-pleaser that aims to compensate for its lack of originality with charm. The film's first-time writer-director Laura Chinn struggles to deliver genuine emotion, making it best for low-investment audiences. Suncoast features a coming-of-age narrative of a girl named Doris, who pushes herself out of the shadows at school, making friends with girls she's previously ignored and flirting with a guy she's never thought she was good enough for. The family drama follows Doris's clash with a difficult mother who cares for her non-communicative son dying of cancer, causing their relationship to suffer. The film also features an unlikely friendship between Doris and an eccentric grieving husband protesting outside the hospice where her brother is being cared for. Suncoast, based on Chinn's experiences as a teenager in the mid-00s, is influenced by the dramedies released at the time. Linney delivers a strong performance, but her portrayal of a working-class Floridian waiting tables is difficult to fully buy. Parker is charming but too refined to sell a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. The pair do a decent amount of lifting, but they are never immersed enough in their world to believe them as anything more than actors. Harrelson's inclusion is in full sleepwalk mode, making the story feel less real and lacking any narrative sense. The film is in need of more reality and more depth. The high school drama Suncoast is a comedy that struggles with familiarity and familiarity, but its mother-daughter conflict is the most affecting. The character of Linney, who is unable to let her child's death consume her, is portrayed as a character who can be unpleasant to be around. The film struggles with authenticity, but the character's knottier nature makes it feel the most authentic. Suncoast settles for amiable competency, but never truly leaves a lasting impact on the audience. Laura Chinn's memoir "Acne" is a survivalist tale about her parents' distractions and the dark side of life. In her feature debut, "Suncoast," Chinn fictionalizes the story of her brother's slow death from brain cancer at the same Florida hospice as Terri Schiavo, a vegetative patient whose right to die became a moral and legal issue in 2005. The film follows the daily surreal reality of Doris and Kristine, navigating a group of protesters who call the hospice an execution chamber. Linney portrays Kristine as a martyr with a temper, fearing she will miss Max's last breath. She abandons Doris and forgets her daughter exists. The script flattens Doris into a shy innocent, a sympathetic template of a good kid. Despite this, the film's truths about witnessing a loved one's decline are admirable. For example, Paul, a big-hearted but obstinate Schiavo protester, prays for Max's survival, but Doris refuses.

As a comedy drama, Suncoast really excels at threading that needle between the two tones. It's a film in which both sides of the argument are completely understandable no matter how selfish the characters may act. Some of the deeper aspects are left unexplored but when the personal drama is this good that's not much of an issue.

Nico Parker has so much endearing awkwardness that the film mines for a lot of cringe and it works constantly. She also has a nice chemistry with Woody Harrelson, who is given a role perfectly suited to his rugged charm. Laura Linney has the hardest character to portray and succeeds at making sure she doesn't stray into caricature.

Laura Chinn's direction has a specificity within all the tropes that makes the film feel more personal, saving its most devastatingly emotional moment for the very end. The score by Este Haim and Christopher Stracey does a terrific job of setting the scene, from its very first notes you know exactly what kind of film this will be.

Teenager (Nico Parker) lives with her strong-willed mother (Laura Linney), who must take her brother (Cree Kawa) to live at a specialized facility. While trying to grieve and look after her brother, she is also trying to live.

I love this film. Linney and Parker are fabulous together, exploring how to live your life when faced with impending death of a loved one. Although it's not stated, they are dealing with grief before the death instead of after. This leads to turmoil between them as Doris (Parker) tries to enjoy teen moments, make friends, find a boyfriend, go to prom, and do all the things teens do that mark the stages of their lives.

Yet she must also be ready -as Paul (Woody Harrelson) warns her- for grief and regret to come crashing in when her brother finally dies.

Some say this is a coming of age film and there is an element of that but it is so much more: it's about recognising priorities, recognising true friends, and seeing your own responsibilities to others as well as them to you.

It's beautifully done, it's a film I'd probably watch again too, for the nuances.

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Filmmaker Laura Chinn definitely has a vision and trying to capture the essence of the early 2000's of Florida life hood and even with good intentions, the movie is afraid to be confrontational with it's serious subject and ends up feeling cliched and Oscar-bait like CODA.

Throughout, the production designs are solid and the soundtrack was pretty annoying. The narrative explores themes about death, religion, family, and the politics surrounding it and includes some serious themes that could have been pretty good. But unfortunately the narrative is too scared to get into the themes to explore more deeper about it and ends up, feeling cheesy, uninspiring and lackluster of a story.

The performances from the cast members are solid as Nico Parker provides the best performance from the entire cast. Unfortunately, the characters weren't interesting as they felt underdeveloped and kind of annoying to fully connect with. I like Woody Harrleson but his character was annoying and felt like the cheesy Hollywood character in basic drama movies. The dialogue is a bit rough and the basic narrative ends up causing the movie to feel pretty dull and lifeless.

Chinn's direction is fine but it doesn't really do a good job on handling the subject matter and I kind of wish it focused more deeper into the themes rather feeling like a vibe movie at times.

One of the weaker selections from the U. S. Dramatic Competition.

Props to this film for being so real and wholesome. Following the emotional ups and downs up 17 y/o Doris and her mom as they struggle with facing the reality of her dying brother in entirely different ways. For me though, both characters weren't too likable but were definitely the right choice for this story. The way the story was told created a narrative in which there is no villain, the actions of both characters were all understandable and justifiable despite how selfish and far it goes. I felt that Doris's character was especially well developed, showing how she's been dealing with her brother and mom for so many years that she is tolerant and practically immune but on the other hand, creating her as a blank sheet of paper when faced with interacting with her peers.

Although the characters and plot were successfully developed and nearly got a few tears out of me, it felt at times quite generic and lacking in parts. But still, a decent and focused film that's worth watching. Definitely enjoyable and not overwhelming with a ordinary but intimate story.