By Henry Pham
Tuner is a crime thriller that focuses on a gifted young piano tuner, Niki White, whose heightened sense of hearing draws the attention of criminals, who see his talents as a useful tool for opening safes, just as he is capable of tuning pianos. With his once-promising musical career over, he works across New York as a piano tuner and repairman with his mentor Harry Horowitz, encountering a range of musicians, piano players, and customers, including composition piano student Ruthie, with whom he forges an unexpected connection. However, Niki’s safecracking work threatens his budding romance with Ruthie and pulls him into increasingly dangerous territory.
Leo Woodall, recognized for his role as Jack in HBO’s The White Lotus, plays Niki White, a former pianist living in New York City who now apprentices with piano tuner Harry Horowitz (portrayed by Oscar-winning Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man), a friend of Niki’s late father. Once a talented musician, Niki now suffers from hyperacusis, which prevents him from playing and requires him to wear ear protection at all times. Woodall’s performance anchors the film. While Niki is not always optimistic, his resilience and determination set him apart. His dynamic with Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu, Bottoms), a dedicated piano student at the conservatory, is both engaging and authentic, highlighting his passion for music. This connection also makes him vulnerable, leading him from seeking funds for an unjust medical bill to making further questionable choices.
Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Daniel Roher (Navalny) makes his narrative feature debut as both director and writer. Despite initial concerns about his transition to fiction, Roher delivers strong direction and writing. The cinematography is precise, intentional, and purposeful, and the film’s 107-minute runtime is well-paced, maintaining audience engagement throughout. Each scene is thoughtfully constructed. The sound design is particularly Oscar-noteworthy, drawing viewers into the film’s tension and enhancing its immersive quality. The film draws clear inspiration from various crime films, as well as Whiplash and Sound of Metal, (the latter two are both Oscar-winning works). While the film is solid overall, it does not rely on unexpected twists. The cast is pretty solid, but Leo Woodall has really stolen the hearts (and ears) of all of us.
As a former musician who played the violin from the beginning of middle school through college, I find this movie extremely pleasant to watch, and it goes right up my alley (even though I’m not a pianist). Director Daniel Roher and star Leo Woodall have pitched perfectly in this crime-thriller spectacle in Tuner. This movie is a must-watch for critics, audiences, musicians, and those in the CODA (child of deaf adults) community. I’m not kidding, you need to watch this if you’re not too deaf or blind to pass up an opportunity on selecting this feature film. It’s a quieter masterpiece, and I promise you will definitely regret this if you don’t get a chance to see it. It’s a crime movie that meets Whiplash or Sound of Metal in this manner. I hope this film gets some Oscar nominations, particularly Best Sound.
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