Tu dors Nicole Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Tu dors Nicole Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 31, 2015

The Canadian production “Tu Dors Nicole” presents a journey into the painful early moments of adulthood, tracking the titular character (played by Julianne Cote) as she experiences the slow death of juvenile comfort, pushed out into a world she wants little to do with. Instead of mounting a valentine to ennui, writer/director Stephane Lafleur finds a slightly quirkier edge to “Tu Dors Nicole,” paying attention to the comedic possibilities of the material along with its stinging, immensely relatable realities in connection to the last summer of a post-college life.

“Tu Dors Nicole” plays familiar, covering well-worn ground when it comes to boredom facing aimless youth. Lafleur doesn’t have originality, but there’s sensitivity to the effort that’s encouraging, ultimately ending up inside Nicole’s clouded headspace as she observes the death of a close friendship, the mummified routine of suburban life, and the final moments of minimum-wage comfort as she begins to take advantage of a dead-end job. It’s an episodic collection of experiences and disappointments, but it’s sold with style, viewing this black and white world with careful framing and editorial choices, while performances carry gravitas as they maneuver around dry material.

Tu dors Nicole Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encode image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a slightly more reserved take on black and white cinematography, with the viewing experience favoring a softer, milkier look to present the inner life of a young adult. Detail retains power, offering secure facial textures and set decoration, while exteriors preserve distances. Delineation is satisfactory, managing evening excursions and dimly lit interiors, and contrast never slips out of control. Source is clean, but mild banding is detected.

Tu dors Nicole Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles the feature's limited soundscape with charming accuracy. Perhaps the most powerful encounters here belong to a practicing rock band, with their songs delivering sharp instrumentation and a pounding low-end. Scoring cues are equally detailed, supporting with a moody rumble. Dialogue exchanges aren't problematic, seizing subtle dramatic intent and broader conversational activity. Atmospherics retain space and environmental changes, feeling out the expanse of the locations.

Tu dors Nicole Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (six pages) contains an essay by Vadim Rizov.

• Deleted Scenes offer "Toast with Honey" (1:29, HD) and "Nicole's Dream" (:45, HD).

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:16, HD) is included.

Tu dors Nicole Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Surprisingly, laughs are found in the sobering "Tu Dors Nicole," mostly emerging from a 10-year-old boy with a 40-year-old man's voice who's hopelessly in love with Nicole, his former babysitter. It's a Jared Hess-style touch that works well, adding needed silliness before plunging back into the oceanic waters of maturation. "Tu Dors Nicole" is generally quite smart in the manner it balances light and dark material, but it's always careful to preserve characterization, adding welcome gravity to a challenging time of self-awareness and motivation.