My quick rating – 6.7/10. Not sure I have watched a heist movie built around a profession that normally puts people to sleep. Up until now. Tuner takes piano tuning and somehow turns listening very, very carefully into one of the coolest criminal skills in recent memory. I figured I was in for a slow start as Niki (Leo Woodall) and Harry (the always exceptional Dustin Hoffman) made their rounds tuning pianos. Turns out, I was only a few scenes away from realizing that perfect pitch is apparently just one career change away from safecracking.
The idea is absurd in a good way. Niki has hyperacusis, making him acutely sensitive to sound, yet rather than focusing on this being solely an inconvenience, Turner makes a weapon out of it. Now all those clicks, tumblers, and metal whispers within a safe become a composition waiting to be solved. Who knew all those years spent playing and listening to pianos would end up leading him into criminal activities? Somewhere, a locksmith is questioning every music lesson they skipped growing up.
Director Daniel Roher manages to maintain a very tight pace. This movie never outstays its welcome and transitions from quiet moments with characters to scenes of robbery very fluidly. Another thing I should mention is the fantastic soundtrack, because it integrates well with what happens in the scenes and not just plays over it. When you combine this with superb editing and sound design, the safecracking scenes feel exciting without using explosions and gunfire. Perhaps the heroes of Tuner are the editors and sound department.
The cast certainly does their part as well. Leo Woodall makes Niki an easy protagonist to root for, balancing awkward charm with growing confidence as his unusual talents pull him further into dangerous territory. Dustin Hoffman brings his experience to Harry, while Jean Reno feels perfectly cast as the intimidating Maestro, Marius Maissner. Havana Rose Liu also shares terrific chemistry with Woodall as Ruthie, giving the film enough heart to keep the criminal antics balanced.
The ending lands with a funny payoff that had me legit smile. And the movie never takes itself so seriously that it forgets to have fun. This allows it to stand out as something other than yet another dark crime thriller.
Baby Driver came to mind, and yes, there are similarities. Both movies have a young protagonist who succeeds in the crime world thanks to his special musical talent. Past that, though, they couldn’t feel more different. Baby Driver relies on stylish action and high-speed car chases, while Tuner builds its thrills through meticulous editing, sound, and pacing.
As much as I enjoyed Tuner, I do have one nagging criticism. I cannot help feeling that it is not something that will stick with me for long. It is a fun, clever movie with very strong performances and a brilliant twist at the core of it, but once it was over, it seemed like one of those movies that you will be happy to recommend. As you will most likely tell someone that it is the one with the piano tuner, that will help you to remember the title. Fortunately, I was entertained while I was watching it, and sometimes that’s all a good heist movie really needs.
