A One Mann’s Movies review of “Tuner”. (2026, 4*, 15).
Massively trailed ahead of its release, I was afraid that this might go the same way as “Finding Emily” and be a bit of a disappointment after a tempting trailer. But thankfully that was not the case. This is a stylishly delivered thriller, albeit with a few dubious plot-holes. Starring is the only man currently stopping Josh O’Conner from getting all the roles: Leo Woodhall! But the star turn, even though he’s not got many minutes in the film, is Dustin Hoffman who glitters and shines and would be a current shortlist for my Best Supporting Actors list.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman) runs a piano tuning business in New York (actually Toronto) together with his young apprentice Niki White (Leo Woodall). Niki has hearing that is both a blessing and a curse: firstly, he is pitch perfect, which is great for piano tuning and for showing off to his new girlfriend, virtuoso pianist Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu); but he also suffers from hyperacusis, a rare hearing disorder that causes extreme sensitivity to everyday sounds. When Niki’s path crosses with that of a gang of robbers, his ability to crack a safe through hearing alone comes in handy.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC website: “Strong language, drug misuse, violence, brief sexual images.”)
Talent:
Starring: Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Tovah Feldshuh, Lior Raz, Gil Cohen, Nissan Sakira.
Directed by: Daniel Roher.
Written by: Daniel Roher & Robert Ramsey.
Running Time: 1h 49m.
Review:
Positives:
- Heist thrillers like this are ten-a-penny, but this one stands out as being quite unusual. You have the fact that you don’t expect mild-mannered-piano-tuners to be mixed up in anything shady. You have the traditional ‘ordinary Joe’ mixed up in something way over his head. And you add into that Niki’s ear-condition which – you can only imagine – must be truly debilitating to sufferers working and playing in a modern city environment. It all combines to create a hugely enjoyable ride…. and that’s even before you throw in….
- Dustin Hoffman. Man, the guy can act. From his very first scene, arguing with a woman about also repairing her toilet (“Make it $500 and we’ll talk!”), he sparkles with twinkly energy and the relationship between himself and Niki feels long-term and genuine. When a homeowner (Ellyn Jameson?) opens the door to them in her underwear, the brief look of pervy delight on Hoffman’s face is priceless!
- This is not to take anything away from Leo Woodall, who again demonstrates what a reliable pair of hands he is in a film like this. His pairing with Havana Rose Liu again feels organic and natural, given their shared passion for music. The great Jean Reno also appears in the last reel of the film, playing a pivotal role in the plot.
- Another star of the film is the editing, which is extremely slick and professional. We flash through cityscapes and spinning safe dials with equal style. I could see Greg O’Bryant potentially picking up an Oscar nom for this as well.
- Harry is an ex-jazz player until his arthritis caught up with him (Herbie Hancock makes a surprise cameo at an event in his honour). So naturally, the score is suffused with good jazz music, some of them traditional staples we have heard in other films (e.g. “The Thomas Crown Affair”) and others original compositions from Will Bates. All very strong.
- The script demands diligence, at least in terms of a certain amount of crypto-currency. This is a “see don’t tell” scenario, where observation pays dividends!
Negatives:
- There are a few moments where I went “hang on a minute”! Most prominently, the gang of villains, led by bad-guy Uri (Lior Raz), are security consultants who snaffle their treasure by skimming off the top of the “rich pricks” who won’t miss the odd bauble or watch from their safes. But the gang penetrate the houses in such a visible way (saying “hi” to the security guard on the way in, for example) or – in the first case – actually cutting open the guy’s safe! How on earth, when a “rich prick” does notice an item missing, weren’t they immediately collared?
Summary Thoughts:
Daniel Roher (director of the excellent documentary Navalny) delivers a fine piece of movie entertainment, well worth getting out to see on the big screen.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBGE-vnvQq0.
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!