Tuner Is ‘Baby Driver’ Meets ‘Thief’

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With so many big movies coming out this summer, it’s easy to overlook smaller independent films like Tuner. But if you enjoy slick, stylish thrillers, you shouldn’t miss this delightful film, which is rolling out in theaters across the country this May. It’s a fun blend of the energy of Baby Driver and the cool vibe of Thief, making it a genuinely enjoyable and charming movie.

It’s easy for smaller films to get lost during the busy summer blockbuster season, and Tuner, with Leo Woodall (from The White Lotus), Havana Rose Liu (Bottoms), and Dustin Hoffman, is one of them. But don’t overlook this lively, fast-paced movie – it’s a surprisingly great find that genre fans will really enjoy.

Tuner Brings New Life to the Crime Thriller Genre

Daniel Roher, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind the documentary Navalny, makes his narrative feature debut with Tuner. The film centers on Niki White (Leo Woodall), a talented but quiet apprentice, and Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman), a seasoned and somewhat demanding New York City piano tuner. While piano tuning isn’t a commonly depicted profession, Tuner overcomes the challenge of visual dynamism with a lively, jazz-inspired style. The movie is fast-paced and visually striking, thanks to sharp editing and a focus on the humorous and heartwarming relationship between the talkative, old-school Harry and his young protégé, who brings his own skills and hidden struggles to the job.

Niki used to be a brilliant pianist, but now suffers from hyperacusis – a severe sensitivity to sound, which he calls a “noise allergy.” He’s constantly bothered by everyday sounds and always wears ear protection, making him somewhat withdrawn. Despite this, he’s become like a son to Harry. While his condition makes daily life difficult, it’s also given him incredibly precise hearing, making him a master piano tuner with perfect pitch. Interestingly, this heightened sensitivity also helps him when Harry forgets the combination to his safe.

Niki, who struggles with hearing loss, unexpectedly finds he has a knack for cracking safes after watching some online guides. This skill leads him to a profitable, though risky, side job when he meets Uri (Lior Raz), the leader of a small group of Israeli thieves. After Niki successfully opens a safe during a job, Uri offers him the chance to earn a lot of money quickly. Niki is reluctant to get involved until he learns that Uri and his wife, Marla (Tovah Feldshuh), are deeply in debt. Wanting to help ease their financial burden, Niki reluctantly agrees to work with Uri.

After that, Niki gets involved in a unique operation. He uses his skills to open the secret safes of the wealthy, assisting Uri and his team in a Robin Hood-like scheme: stealing from the rich and giving to those in need. They justify their actions by believing the extremely wealthy won’t even realize anything is missing. Uri argues that someone so rich wouldn’t notice, or care about, even a valuable item like a stolen gold watch.

Niki is quickly earning the money Harry and Marla desperately need to cover their hospital bills. However, things rarely go smoothly, and this newfound success is about to complicate Niki’s previously quiet life. It’s especially true as he begins a romantic relationship with Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), an ambitious pianist determined to make it big.

While the individual parts of Tuner, particularly as the story unfolds, might seem recognizable, the film as a whole feels surprisingly new and fun. It’s boosted by a talented cast, a lively visual style, and a quick, energetic pace. Even when you start to see where the story is going, it remains exciting and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The movie draws you in because you genuinely like the characters and their relationships—both the easy friendship between Harry and Niki, and the budding romance between Niki and Ruthie. This makes you invested in seeing how everything unfolds, even though the overall story isn’t entirely original. It’s good when a film understands what audiences enjoy and adds enough fresh elements to keep things interesting, even as the plot becomes more predictable. And while Tuner isn’t perfect, it generally manages to stay on track and deliver an enjoyable experience.

Tuner Rises Above the Noise of the Summer Movie Season

Black Bear Pictures recently showed early screenings of Tuner in a few Dolby theaters. While most people won’t be able to see it like that, it’s a fantastic way to watch the film. The immersive sound design is particularly noticeable and helps you truly experience the world through the ears of the main character, who has heightened hearing.

Sound editing is incredibly important in filmmaking. A movie’s ability to draw you in, particularly in a theater, often relies on creative and effective sound design. In a film like Tuner, a high-quality sound system, such as those found in Dolby theaters, really allows the sound work to shine. Because Tuner is a character-driven story told from a unique point of view, immersive sound enhances the experience and makes seeing it in the theater especially worthwhile.

One of the great things about movies is their ability to immerse us in perspectives different from our own. This is especially true with the film Tuner. Just as Baby Driver put viewers inside the mind of its protagonist, Tuner fully draws the audience into the world of someone with hyperacusis – a severe sensitivity to sound. The film powerfully demonstrates how debilitating this condition can be, even for those who have undergone therapy, and how much careful planning goes into daily life. Tuner‘s unique approach to sound design creates an experience unlike most other crime thrillers, even for seasoned moviegoers.

Despite its flaws, the movie is visually appealing. Though it can feel cluttered at times, it has a lighthearted energy, particularly during comedic scenes, which keeps the pace lively and engaging. When the story needs to become more serious, it does so without losing momentum. Thanks to strong direction and quick editing, the film maintains a purposeful speed, remaining clever and thankfully, offering substance beyond just style.

The screenplay, co-written by Rohr and Robert Ramsey, is full of energetic characters and consistently raises the tension. Even when the plot becomes predictable, the well-developed characters keep the film engaging, boosted by strong performances from the entire cast. Leo Woodall is particularly captivating, portraying a character who is both intense and subtly vulnerable. Havana Rose Liu brings a likable and delicate quality to her role, creating a nice contrast to Woodall’s performance. However, Dustin Hoffman truly shines, delivering a predictably charming and witty supporting performance that steals the show.

“Tuner” is a surprisingly fun and engaging film, but it’s easy to miss. If you enjoy crime thrillers with well-developed characters, it’s definitely worth seeing – it’s a strong movie that deserves attention despite being released alongside bigger blockbusters.

Tuner Hits All the Right Notes

After getting a great response at film festivals last year, Black Bear Pictures is hoping their small movie can become a surprise hit this summer. It’s too soon to tell if Tuner will connect with audiences when it opens in limited release this Memorial Day weekend, with a wider release planned for the following week. However, it seems promising, especially with a strong 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it definitely deserves to be seen by a lot of people.

Though Tuner might remind viewers of similar films, it feels surprisingly original, particularly because it focuses on a rarely depicted job and features a compelling lead character. In an era of predictable movies, Daniel Roher’s debut narrative film immediately grabs your attention.

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2026-05-28 20:43