Tuner: A Review

TUNER

One might be surprised to see an action film where the lead is a piano tuner. However, that is exactly what one will get in Tuner. Never overstaying its welcome, Tuner has solid performances and an engaging story that should entertain viewers.

Niki White (Leo Woodall) was once a highly talented pianist. He was forced to withdraw from this, however, due to his growing hyperacusis. He now works as a piano tuner apprentice to friend and jazz aficionado Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman). Niki enjoys Harry's company as well as that of Harry's wife Marla (Tovah Feldshuh). Harry, who is becoming more forgetful, changed his safe's combination and cannot remember to what. Niki offers to help find the new combination through studying how to open safes and his own unique hearing issues.

He is surprised to find himself a solid safecracker. He also finds himself at first irritated by Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu). She is an aspiring pianist and composer who is irritated that her practice time is being swallowed up by Niki's tuning. However, she is impressed at how Niki can identify the various notes and keys with ease. Harry attempts to play matchmaker between Ruthie and Niki, but no dice from either.

Harry has a health scare requiring hospitalization. This puts Niki solely in charge of a new job at a charity event. Niki is forced to work late and encounters a trio of thieves attempting to break into a safe. In exchange for leaving him to work in total silence, Niki cracks open the safe. Ringleader Uri (Lior Raz) is impressed by Niki's mad skills. He offers Niki work as a safecracker. Owing to Harry's continuing hospital bills and potential loss of his business, Niki eventually accepts.

Niki now leads a double life. He and Ruthie do eventually begin a romance. He also becomes adept at safecracking. This delights Uri, his partner in crime Yoni (Gil Cohen) and Uri's idiot nephew Benny (Nissan Sakira) who begin finding booming business breaking into various homes.

Things come to a head though when Niki is brought in for a new job involving Koreans wanting the codes to a cryptocurrency account. He does manage the job, but the Korean's uncle arrives unexpectedly. This leads to a chain of events that put everyone's lives in danger. Will Niki keep Ruthie safe? Will a previous heist end up costing Niki his freedom? Marius Maissner (Jean Reno), who is Ruthie's idol and potential mentor, is astonished to find his grandmother's Holocaust watch on her wrist. Will Niki be able to get his grandfather's Holocaust watch back from the Israeli criminal gang? Will everyone survive? 

Tuner works thanks to the performances. Leo Woodall continues building up his career with his performance as Niki. This is a decent man who made a terrible pact due to circumstances. What impressed me greatly about Woodall's performance is how sometimes he is quite still. He does not rage or show anger when, for example, Ruthie seems initially dismissive of his ability to hear the correct chords. Instead, Woodall shows Niki to be slightly frustrated that he is being questioned. He covers all the emotional beats correctly.

In her smaller role, Tovah Feldshuv does well as Martha, Harry's loving and supportive albeit at times frustrated wife. Leo Raz's Uri keeps to a menacing villain, though he is not a cartoonish villain. Instead, Uri is almost pleasant when he needs to be. Dustin Hoffman has little to do but look befuddled. That is, in fairness, his character. 

The weak link was Havana Rose Liu as Ruthie. It was not a bad performance. It was just not a great one. Sometimes it did look as if she was trying too hard to be concerned or upset. I did not hate Liu as Ruthie. I just did not love her either.

Director and cowriter Daniel Roher (writing with Robert Ramsey) did well in keeping things flowing. One could quibble on how the tie-in between the watch and Maestro Maissner was a bit too coincidental. It is one of those "something will happen if the plot requires it to" moments. Again, it is not a dealbreaker. It is, however, a bit too much to believe. 

Overall, though, Tuner works for what it is: a combination of heist and character study. The film is entertaining, well-paced and well-acted. I think viewers will enjoy the sights and sounds of Tuner. 

DECISION: B-