“Tuner” (2025) directed by Daniel Roher, starring Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu and Dustin Hoffman / Z-View

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Tuner (2025)

Director: Daniel Roher

Screenplay:  Daniel Roher, Robert Ramsey

Stars: Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu, Dustin Hoffman, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, Herbie Hancock and Jean Reno.

Tagline: Everybody has one hidden talent.

The Plot…

Niki White was musical prodigy when he was young.  A piano virtuoso with perfect pitch.  Then Niki developed hyperacusis.  This super sensitivity to sound forced Niki to constantly wear protection against noise and to give up piano playing.

Niki, now a young man, works with his former music teacher, Harry Horowitz, as a piano tuner. Thanks to his perfect pitch, Harry wearing ear protection, is an excellent tuner.  Despite the difference in their ages, Niki and Harry are best friends.  When Harry forgets the combination to his safe, Niki is able to open it thanks to his hyperacusis.

After Harry has a heart attack, the bills pile up. Niki reaches out to Uri, a casual acquaintance, who knows about Niki’s ability to open a safe.  Uri had told Niki that if he ever wanted to earn a lot of quick easy money, to contact him.  Niki wants the cash to help Harry.

Niki thinks that after a couple of quick scores, he’ll be out.  Niki thinks no one will get hurt.  Niki’s wrong.  On both counts.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dustin Hoffman is perfect as Harry. In the film Harry’s birthday is given as August 8th, 1937. This is Hoffman’s actual birth date.  In Tuner, Hoffman plays a former music teacher.  Before he decided on an acting career, Dustin Hoffman studied at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music.

Leo Woodall and Havana Rose Liu are excellent.

At one point in Tuner, Niki is referred to as Rain Man because of his special ability to hear.  Dustin Hoffman, who also appears in Tuner, played the title character in Rain Man.

Tuner surprised me because of how little publicity it seems to have received.  (Or did I just miss it all?)  Tuner receives my highest recommendation.

Tuner (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.