Seán Brereton Hurley plucks the delicate chord between comedy, romance and robbery in his review of Tuner.
Daniel Roher’s latest film Tuner is a darkly comic heist/romance that follows talented musicians navigating the gulf between struggling to survive and pursuing their dreams.
Former child prodigy Niki White (Leo Woodall) is a brilliant pianist who can no longer play due to his heightened sensitivity to sound caused by hyperacusis. He travels across New York City, where he now tunes pianos with his former mentor, Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman). After a chance encounter with Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu) - another gifted music student desperate to make a living - a budding romance develops. However, when Harry falls ill, Niki is forced into a life of crime. He uses his extraordinary hearing to crack the safes of the city’s wealthiest residents to pay off Harry’s debt and medical bills. This leaves Niki torn between his growing relationship with Ruthie and saving the man who supported him.
In an interview at the film's screening in Sundance, Roher shared how he was inspired to write this film after meeting a piano tuner in Los Angeles. An Academy Award-winning documentary director and only 33 years old, Roher was enthralled by the intricate detail of how a tuner’s job was to keep piano strings in tune - ultimately against the forces of the universe. His goal with this film was to create “a good guy doing a bad thing for the right reason.”
Roher writes Niki with emotional complexity, shaped by the pressures forcing him into crime. Having starred in some iconic series, from The White Lotus to the Sharon Horgan EPed Vladimir, Woodall’s performance stands out as not only relatable but remarkably human. And of course, veteran actor Hoffman delivers yet another powerful performance.
As a feature, Tuner manages to avoid some of the more traditional tropes of heist movies. Niki’s condition allows for a unique way to create suspense, and the antagonists are somewhat likeable. They treat Niki with care, giving him a quiet environment to accommodate his condition.
Unlike more traditional heist films, Tuner places music at the centre of its storytelling. The film shares DNA with Baby Driver (2017) and Drive (2011), both of which use sound to pull focus on the tension and mood. Tuner's score gives distinct character to each separate thread, heightening those moments of emotion at key points. Jazz classics such as “Unsquare Dance” by Dave Brubeck accompany Niki’s moments of success. In contrast, the action set pieces rely on intense electronic beats to amplify the suspense. Classical music, particularly through Ruthie’s original composition, recurs closing the powerful final scenes of the film.
Overall, this is an impressive blend of romance, crime, and melody that hits all the right beats.
Tuner is in cinemas on 29th May 2025.
