I had heard of director Daniel Roher for his documentary credits, including Navalny, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film in 2023. Tuner was a total shift for the Toronto, Canada-born director, making a thrilling ride that I did not want to get off—along with so many heartwarming moments. If you did not know Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) and Havana Rose Liu’s (Bottoms) works before, you will after coming out of this watch.
Having acutely sensitive hearing is both a blessing and a curse for Niki White, played by Woodall in Roher’s first narrative feature. Though his auditory condition ended a promising musical career, it has been a boon for his job as a piano tuner. Together with his genial mentor Harry Horowitz (Oscar-winning Dustin Hoffman), he spends his days travelling across New York, tending to instruments that require his special skills.
These duties also compel the typically taciturn Niki to come out of his protective shell and interact with people such as Ruthie (Liu), a music composition student with whom he feels a spark. But when shady individuals discover that Niki’s talents could be just as useful on locked safes as on old Steinways, events take a dangerous turn, adding the thrills of a heist film to a story already remarkably fleet-footed as both drama and romance.
From the first needle drop of Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man, I knew I was in for a good time. I did not expect a roller-coaster ride, though. Roher and co-screenwriter Robert Ramsey wrote Tuner’s story in a way that is dramatic but never drags out a scene. Cinematographer Lowell A. Meyer and editor Greg O’Bryant also deserve credit for their shot selections and quick cuts, which ramp up the pacing at key moments. The opening montage would not have worked without the masterful editing and the savvy choice of Toronto locations that sell a New York setting.
I touched on the music earlier, but composer Will Bates deserves recognition for knowing when to let Tuner’s score shine and when to rely on licensed tracks. This was likely a collaborative effort between Roher and Bates to strike the right balance. For a film that revolves around music and piano playing, this was crucial in elevating it from good to great. On the same track with sound design, the sound department merits Oscar consideration.
Roher and Ramsey also took a bold swing by featuring a lead character with a rare hearing impairment, hyperacusis: an extreme sensitivity to certain or loud sounds. I would be curious to hear otolaryngologists and audiologists weigh in on Tuner’s accuracy, and on the choices made to bring that realism to the screen.
“Tuner began with a great premise that kept evolving throughout the first two acts, and it will leave you gripping your seat until the final moments.”
In terms of acting, Hoffman carried the supporting role as the wise and charismatic mentor to Woodall’s character. Together, Hoffman and Woodall convincingly conveyed a bond that felt like that of a grandfather and grandson, raw and honest in its emotional weight. Tovah Feldshuh’s Marla Horowitz also added to the sentimental moments in this thrilling narrative, embodying the role of a sharp grandmother who continuously senses when something is wrong with her family.
The romantic chemistry between Woodall’s Niki and Liu’s Ruthie was striking. From their initial meet-cute, both actors brought their A-game with on-screen flirting and witty banter. In their first scene together, Woodall delivers a monotone chain of piano notes that plays like art. While not a monologue, it carries that rhythm and presence. Liu, meanwhile, played the perfect independent musician, not relying on Niki to do her job. Instead, Ruthie allows Niki to step into her world and join her on her journey.
Tuner would not succeed as a heist thriller without its antagonist. Lior Raz, as small-time crime boss Uri, was the final piece that elevated the film from great to sublime. He was not a villain for villainy’s sake; his motives made sense and reflected the very reasons people often seize questionable opportunities.
Uri and his relatives, Benny and Yoni, were a vibe for being semi-pro thieves. Raz spoke about how the three actors built up their chemistry as an on-screen family (see our TikTok to hear Raz himself) by hanging out outside of filming. Their great performances proved that this method worked, as the family dynamics felt natural, including Uri and Yoni bullying Benny for being too soft.
Tuner began with a great premise that kept evolving throughout the first two acts, and it will leave you gripping your seat until the final moments. The culmination of genres created a masterpiece work that not only shed light on a rare disease, but told a smart, unique story—filled with everyday struggles and relatability. Everything about this film is what I love about original stories that are not connected to IPs or franchises. If you want a film with jazz, heists, comedy, romance, crime, thriller, and heartwarming moments—Tuner has it all.
