Tuner

It feels like the local cineplex has been running out of options lately. While these movies haven’t completely disappeared, it’s definitely become harder to find a really good comedy or thriller on the big screen. More often than not, those are the kinds of movies that end up dumped onto streaming services. For me, that’s always been strange, because comedies and thrillers are two genres that benefit the most from the theater experience. Whether it’s laughing with a crowd or feeling tension ripple through an audience, those reactions are part of the fun. I don’t know exactly why these movies have become rarer in theaters, but when a really good one does come along, I feel like I need to shout its praises from the rooftops so people actually go see it. David Roher’s new film Tuner is one of those movies. It hits all the right notes and ended up being a genuinely pleasant surprise.

Nikki (Lee Woodall) doesn’t exactly live a normal life. He’s extremely sensitive to noise, but oddly enough, that sensitivity makes him perfect for his job. Nikki works as an apprentice for Harry (Dustin Hoffman), a piano tuner who, along with his wife Marla (Tovah Feldshuh), has practically raised him since childhood. One night, while tuning a piano at a client’s house, Nikki stumbles across Uri (Lior Raz), who claims to work in security but is actually trying to crack a safe. Nikki offers to help just to speed things up, and by using his incredible hearing, he’s able to unlock the safe simply by listening to the mechanisms inside.

Uri immediately realizes Nikki’s talents could be worth a lot of money and starts offering him jobs opening safes. Nikki initially resists, but after Harry suffers a medical emergency and bills begin piling up, the money becomes hard to turn down. Soon, Nikki finds himself pulled deeper into Uri’s world. At the same time, his personal life begins to change as well when he meets Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), an aspiring piano player he quickly falls for. Before long, Nikki is juggling relationships, crime, and responsibility, all while trying not to lose control of the life he’s built.

Written by Robert Ramsey and Roher, Tuner is a crime thriller that moves with a confident, steady rhythm. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it understands exactly what makes a thriller entertaining. The script doesn’t offer many major surprises, and the climax gets a little messier than it needs to be, but the first two acts are strong enough that you’re willing to forgive some of the rougher edges. What really helps separate Tuner from more standard crime films is the way it blends thriller elements with drama and even a little romantic comedy. Much like instruments in a song, those different tones work together to give the story a richer emotional texture.

I could make endless music puns talking about Tuner, but I’ll keep it simple: this is an engaging and surprisingly thoughtful exploration of identity, talent, and purpose. A lot of that comes from the performances and the film’s terrific sound design. Lee Woodall is excellent as Nikki, balancing confidence and anxiety in a way that makes the character feel believable. You completely buy that he could stand in front of a safe and crack it open using nothing but his hearing. Dustin Hoffman and Havana Rose Liu match that energy perfectly, helping create a cast that feels completely in sync with one another.

Even though the ending feels a little abrupt, the film leaves enough of an impression that it’s easy to overlook. Tuner may not hit every note perfectly, but it absolutely delivers a tune that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

Brian Taylor

Member of the North Texas Film Critics Association, and lover of all things Cinema