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Spoiler alert: This article contains major spoilers and details of the movie ‘the tuner‘. Reader discretion is advised if you haven’t seen it yet.Leo WoodallHaving made a memorable impression in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 2, he is stepping into his first lead role with ‘Tuner’, a low-key thriller that takes one of cinema’s least-used heist methods and builds a compelling story around it. Written and directed by documentary filmmaker Daniel Roher, making his feature debut, and written by Robert Ramsey, the film arrives with quiet confidence and a strong sense of character.
What is a ‘Tuner’
Woodall plays Niki, an apprentice piano tuner who works under veteran Harry Dustin Hoffmanwho handles the customer charm while Niki does the heavy lifting. What suits Niki for his job and eventually his life of crime is a rare condition called hyperacusis, which makes him sensitive to loud noises and able to hear subtle sounds that others simply cannot perceive.When Niki encounters a trio of criminals trying to crack a safe in a house where the piano is running out, she helps them more out of frustration than greed. Things escalate when Harry is hospitalized and his medical bills mount up, prompting Niki to join the team to find some quick cash. The villains soon want more from him than he’s willing to give, and what follows is a tense breakdown as he tries to extricate himself without losing everything in the process.
What works and what doesn’t in “Tuner”.
Roher and Ramsey spend the first third of the film focusing on Niki, played by Harry and Harry’s wife Marla. Tovah Feldshuhlike fully formed characters. That investment in personal stories pays off handsomely as Niki begins her descent into crime. His divided loyalties and the real danger of robberies create real tension, which is further complicated by his romance with piano student Ruthie. Havana Rose Liua relationship that forces him to tell more and more lies.The film has taken a few hits in its second half. Niki’s ultimate goal is unclear, and the script begins to take shortcuts as it moves toward its conclusion. The impromptu argument scene between Niki and Ruthie feels out of place and serves no discernible purpose in the larger story. However, the film maintains a consistently high quality, thanks in large part to its performances and the originality of its central premise.
The cast and what to expect
Woodall is on the verge of a real breakout, and this understated but compelling performance should only accelerate that trajectory. Hoffman, despite his limited screen time, remains as impressive as ever. Liu, best known for ‘Bottoms’, continues to display the kind of screen presence that suggests bigger roles are on the way.‘Tuner’ doesn’t quite live up to its potential, but it’s a thoughtful, well-crafted thriller that makes the most of an underused heist premise and a quietly impressive cast. It is now playing in theatres.
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