Tuner

TUNER (2026) Cert 15
Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Lior Raz. Directed by Daniel Roher. 107m

Leo Woodall demonstrated megawatt charisma in his breakout TV roles in The White Lotus and One Day. Now, Daniel Roher’s smart and intricately plotted crime thriller gives him yet another chance to shine as Niki, a New York piano tuner with exceptionally sensitive hearing; so sensitive that he has to wear earplugs to block out the deafeningly loud world. Niki works for veteran tuner Harry Horowitz, played with irresistible warmth by Dustin Hoffman. When Harry forgets the combination to his safe, Niki discovers that his sensitive hearing also allows him to detect the clicks and pings of its lock and work out how to open it. 

In their work, Harry and Niki come into contact with every type of client, from the heavy hitters of professional music (Herbie Hancock appears in a cameo) to students. Romance blossoms when Niki encounters would-be composer Ruthie while tuning the piano at a music conservatory. It’s the cutest of meet-cutes: Ruthie is initially irritated by the disruption to her work, and she barely acknowledges Niki until she realises he has perfect pitch and can identify every note she plays. 

More often, though, Harry and Niki find themselves tuning the untouched instruments of the obnoxious ultra-wealthy, the kind who see a Steinway as something only on which to put a flower arrangement. The kind, in other words, who deserve to be burgled. That brings a less welcome intruder into their lives. Uri runs a home security company for the wealthy, but has a side hustle robbing his clients. When he gets wind of Niki’s skills, he strong-arms the tuner into moonlighting as a safe-cracker. Niki soon finds himself torn between these three dominant but conflicting figures in his life. Where should his real priorities lie? With Harry or Ruthie or Uri? As a different crisis develops in each of these three relationships, Niki is finally forced to make a decision about which matters to him most. 

The result is a thoroughly charming and engrossing old school American heist thriller like the ones they used to make back in the 1970s, switching back and forth from charming comedy to breathless thriller to sweet romance and then character-driven drama. Think of The Thomas Crown Affair, for example, or Three Days Of The Condor or The Anderson Tapes, but with 21st century street smarts. Throughout it all, a superb soundtrack that combines classical music, jazz and frenetic house underpins the mood with perfect precision. It’s a finely tuned work of art, you might say.

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