Niki White (Leo Woodall) is a piano tuner who works with family friend Harry (Dustin Hoffman). Suffering from hyperacusis, Niki has to wear headphones at all times to live normally, though this does mean that he can find just the right pitch. Learning that he has a knack for cracking safes, he unexpectedly gets swept up into a life of crime. He keeps telling himself it’s to help clear Harry’s medical debts, but when he gets in too deep, it starts to affect his personal life.
Thrillers are meant to excite. They build the tension and keep the audience engaged throughout. For me, it’s usually about the pay off. It needs to have all been worth it. Tuner approached things differently. It started off in a simple yet effective way. While it took its time to set the scene, it never dragged. I appreciated them setting the tone as it allowed us to get to know these characters and learn of what was to come.
Woodall first got his big break starring in season two of The White Lotus. After delivering a memorable performance there, he went on to act in Netflix’s devastating One Day and he was also one of Bridget Jones’s suitors in the latest film of the franchise. Now he helms his first feature film and he does so expertly. There is just something so natural and charismatic about him. The way in which he approached this role was so interesting and I truly believe we will be seeing a lot more of him in the years to come. Hoffman provided much of the comic relief. An older gentleman not quite ready to admit that he needs to slow down, he and Woodall worked so well off of each other. They really did have a father/son relationship going on which was lovely to see. Tovah Feldshuh, who portrayed Harry’s devoted wife Marla, was a wonderful addition to the cast who came across as a mother figure to Niki. There is also a romantic subplot featuring Havana Rose Liu as Ruthie, an accomplished pianist. The relationship that forms between Ruthie and Niki is endearing and adds a level of lightness that is needed amongst the drama. And then there is Lior Raz, the man who Niki becomes entwined with, who is every bit of a villain as you would expect.
One of the most unique aspects of the film was the editing and sound design. I don’t think I had seen them portrayed in this way before. Not only did they elevate the story, but they kept me hooked. I loved how we got to hear the sounds and vibrations from Niki’s perspective. We were able to put ourselves in his shoes and really feel for him as a result. As the story ramped up and the twists revealed themselves, this became so much more important.
At the end of the day, Tuner definitely exceeded my expectations. It delivered a heartfelt and well crafted story with strong technical execution and brilliant performances. I recommend checking it out!
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Credits Rolling 