Tuner review: Leo Woodall gets his best film role yet in a breezy and well-crafted crime caper

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A star rating of 4 out of 5.

These days, superhero movies seem to be everywhere, focusing on characters with amazing powers who protect the world. But a different kind of story – a drama about someone using a special talent to commit crimes – is a genre that could really stand out and deserves more attention.

The movie Drive, featuring Ryan Gosling in 2011, popularized the trend of actors avoiding stunt drivers during action sequences, particularly for car chases. This was notably followed by Ansel Elgort’s character in Baby Driver, who also performed his own incredibly fast driving.

We’ve also seen portrayals like Ben Affleck’s character in The Accountant, where autism was connected to his skills as a forensic accountant, and Rami Malek’s role in Mr. Robot, where a talented cybersecurity expert becomes a hacker.

Tuner is a strong addition to the crime drama genre. Featuring a standout performance from Leo Woodall, known from The White Lotus and One Day, the film centers around a piano tuner with a unique ability. He suffers from hyperacusis – an extreme sensitivity to sound – but discovers it actually helps him expertly crack safes, making him a valuable asset to criminals, much like telekinesis is to the X-Men.

Calling ‘Tuner’ simply a crime film doesn’t quite capture its spirit. It’s a charming mix of crime thriller, buddy comedy, and even a little romance. The film starts off light and fun, showing Niki (Woodall) and his boss, Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman, clearly enjoying himself), driving around. Harry is a father figure to Niki, a jazz enthusiast who’s just as happy discussing tuna sandwiches as he is Herbie Hancock.

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When Harry and Niki are asked to fix the piano of a gifted young composer named Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), Harry playfully exaggerates Niki’s past, telling Ruthie that Niki used to be an incredibly skilled pianist before his illness began.

Things really start to go wrong when I see him at this empty house belonging to a rich piano collector, and he introduces me to Uri – a security guy who, it turns out, has a habit of stealing from the people he’s supposed to be protecting. Honestly, the story hits a lot of familiar notes you’d expect from this type of film, but thankfully, director Daniel Roher brings a really cool, improvisational energy to it all.

I was really blown away by the documentary Navalny, and it turns out it was made by a Canadian filmmaker! He’s actually won an Oscar for it, and the film is a seriously intense look at what happened to Vladimir Putin’s opponent, Alexei Navalny – including the shocking story of his poisoning.

Before this film, Roher directed a documentary about The Band, which might actually be a better indicator of his storytelling abilities. The film’s energy comes from its music, featuring artists like Nina Simone, creative sound effects that immerse you in Niki’s perspective, and quick, dynamic editing – all of which give the story a strong rhythm.

As a movie fan, I really appreciate how carefully crafted this film is. It makes you feel a genuine fondness for the details of how things work – everything from simple locks to the inner workings of pianos and complex concertos. It even reminded me a bit of Michael Mann’s Thief at times, especially when the character Niki is shown expertly handling things – tweaking knobs, instantly recognizing musical notes because of his perfect pitch, which is a fascinating result of his condition. It’s that focus on skill and competence that’s so captivating.

Woodall, usually seen as more outgoing on television, plays a quieter, more reserved character here. He delivers a remarkably physical performance as a capable man who lacks self-assurance. His reaction to a simple threat – an airhorn – feels genuinely painful, almost as if he’s facing something far more dangerous.

Although Dustin Hoffman’s character gets most of the funny lines and Jean Reno makes a delightfully silly appearance near the end, Havana Rose Liu truly shines. The role of the girlfriend who doesn’t know about the criminal activity is often underwritten, but Liu brings a natural and captivating presence to it.

While the story’s big surprises aren’t entirely unexpected, the film ends strongly, making it feel fresh and exciting rather than a simple repeat of what you already know. It’s a lively and engaging take that keeps you captivated until the very end.

Tuner is released in UK cinemas on Friday 29 May.

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Max CopemanApp Editor

Max Copeman is our App Editor, responsible for choosing and preparing the mobile recommendations and watchlist you see. He’s been with the team since 2021 and often chats about movies or soccer.

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2026-05-28 17:35