Story perspectives

‘Tuner’ Arrives—Leo Woodall’s Pitch-Perfect Heist Earns Mixed Praise

5/28/2026

Summary

Niki Cracks Safes

United States released “Tuner,” a 109-minute R crime drama by Daniel Roher via Black Bear.
Leo Woodall stars as hyperacoustic piano tuner Niki White who cracks safes with perfect pitch.
Dustin Hoffman plays Harry Horowitz and Havana Rose Liu plays Ruthie, Niki’s girlfriend.
Johnnie Burn’s design lets viewers hear Niki’s hyperacusis, inspired by piano tuner Peter White, prompting critics to praise Woodall’s performance but fault formulaic plot and unsatisfying ending.

Summary

Woodall Leads Tuner

Woodall, 29, credits his Season 2 “White Lotus” breakout for landing the lead in “Tuner.”
He consulted hyperacusia sufferer Alex Ruger to ensure an authentic portrayal.
Woodall and co-star Havana Rose Liu completed months of intensive piano training to mimic virtuosos.
He constantly monitored ambient noise during filming because loud sequences strained his heightened hearing.
“Tuner” is set to debut on May 29, his first major film after the TV breakthrough.

History

Historical Context

Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 thriller The Conversation, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and earned $4.8 million on a $1.6 million budget, set a benchmark for cinematic sound-surveillance after the Watergate era. That legacy informs Daniel Roher’s 2024 film Tuner, where hyper-acusis expert Alex Ruger guides a new wave of sensory-realism filmmaking.

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Niki Cracks Safes

United States released “Tuner,” a 109-minute R crime drama by Daniel Roher via Black Bear.
Leo Woodall stars as hyperacoustic piano tuner Niki White who cracks safes with perfect pitch.
Dustin Hoffman plays Harry Horowitz and Havana Rose Liu plays Ruthie, Niki’s girlfriend.
Johnnie Burn’s design lets viewers hear Niki’s hyperacusis, inspired by piano tuner Peter White, prompting critics to praise Woodall’s performance but fault formulaic plot and unsatisfying ending.

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