Shadows on the Wall

Tuner

dir Daniel Roher
scr Daniel Roher, Robert Ramsey
prd Michael Heimler, Teddy Schwarzman, JoAnne Sellar, Lila Yacoub
with Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu, Dustin Hoffman, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, Jean Reno, Nissan Sakira, Gil Cohen, CS Lee, Jonnie Park, Rek Lee, Jean Yoon
release US 22.May.26,
UK 29.May.26
25/US Black Bear 1h49

TORONTO FILM FEST

Is it streaming?

A charismatic cast brings this Whiplash-style movie to vivid life, even with its over-structured plot. Director Daniel Roher, who wrote the script with Robert Ramsey, mixes two formulaic narratives, stirring a romantic comedy into a slow-burn thriller. While some intriguing bigger ideas get a bit lost in the storytelling, this is a hugely engaging film that pulls us into both the cute love story and an increasingly tense drama.

In New York, former child prodigy pianist Niki (Woodall) has a hearing condition that makes him unusually sensitive to noise, so he's an excellent piano tuner, working with his mentor Harry (Hoffman). When he discovers that this affliction is also great for safe cracking, he takes various jobs with the shady Uri (Raz), earning cash to pay Harry's medical bills. But Niki's after-hours thieving is complicating his budding romance with composer Ruthie (Liu). And as she prepares to present her new piece in a big performance, Niki is trying to extricate himself from Uri's grip.

Skilfully using a complex sound mix, the story is told through Niki's perspective as he navigates his life's disparate strands: taking over Harry's tuning business, developing things with Ruthie, trying to disentangle from Uri and grappling with big issues from his past. Because these are so deliberately slotted together to create a tight plot, there isn't much space for themes to emerge organically. But scenes are so beautifully staged and played that the sweep of the story remains strongly entertaining.

Woodall is gifted at creating chemistry both on-screen and with the audience, so his scenes with Hoffman and Liu are delightfully fizzy, as the actors find nuance in their connections. Because of Woodall's charm, we root for Niki even when he makes terrible decisions that feel anachronistically written to drive the plot. Liu brings an edgy complexity to Ruthie that elevates their scenes. And Hoffman delivers a superbly sparky turn as the chatty Harry, with strong support from Feldshuh as his no-nonsense wife.

There are so many great things going on in this movie, and the people are so likeable, that it gets frustrating each time we feel the narrative so obviously shift into a new gear. When their situations feel so forced, it's tricky to identify with characters who need a sense of purpose or begin travelling down a slippery slope. The casting and some offbeat details keep it very enjoyable, but the over-worked screenplay doesn't leave us with much to think about.

themes, language, violence 7.May.26

R E A D E R R E V I E W S

Still waiting for your comments ... don't be shy.