Under-the-radar 'Tuner' hits the right chord

You've probably never heard of "Tuner" before. That's OK. Most people haven't. It enjoyed a very limited theatrical run. I wanted to see it in theaters, but the movie never made it to this area. Now available to rent at home, "Tuner" is surprisingly high-quality film. Niki White (Leo Woodall) is an apprentice piano tuner in New York City. His boss and mentor is the legendary piano tuner Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman). Niki has become like a son to Harry and his wife Marla (Tovah Feldshuh). Harry has taught Niki everything he knows, but Niki has surpassed his mentor. Niki has hyperacusis, a condition where normal environmental sounds are perceived as excessively loud or intolerable. Niki wears a set of ear plugs at all times, though he hears people just fine while using them. For really loud sounds he dons a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Because his hearing is so acute, Niki is a great piano tuner. Before the hyperacusis set in, Niki was a virtuoso piano player. Three things happen to change his life. First, he meets Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), a student pianist and composer. Second, Harry develops a medical condition that means Marla will need to sell the work van and essentially put Niki out of a job. But it's the final event that steers his life off track. While working on tuning a piano in a mansion after dark (so he could have complete silence to perform his job), Niki comes upon an owner of a security company, Uri (Lior Raz), who is trying to saw into the owner's safe. Niki has a choice: use his exceptional hearing to break into the safe for Uri or defy a criminal who may kill him. Niki opens the safe. And then accepts more safe-cracking jobs for Uri so he can buy the work van and help pay Harry's medical bills. Everything is going great, until it's not. I've said this before, but I'll say it again: It's always fun to find a diamond in the rough, a movie that flew so far under the radar it barely got off the ground. A movie seen by few people, but is of high quality. That's "Tuner." I really hate to say it, but this is a movie that (most) critics got right, even if it didn't draw big audiences. Unlike many movies with a smaller budget, "Tuner" is well-made film by a writer and director who is supremely skilled at his craft. Daniel Roher has directed other movies you have likely never heard of, I know I hadn't. But he clearly has what it takes to succeed as a director and writer of major motion pictures. He's a name to watch on the Hollywood scene. Speaking of the writing, this movie provides a unique twist on a crime caper. It's a crime movie without a single law enforcement officer involved. It's all about Niki and his loved ones, and the criminals. Most important to the story is the element of someone with hyperacusis using his condition to crack safes. His ability only works on safes with dials and not keypads – still it's an intriguing way for the good guy to be drawn into the criminal underworld. The movie also has a great ending. The only minor quibble with the script is the predictability of a few of the events that take place. It was obvious that Niki and Ruthie would fall in love. And equally clear that Niki's participation in the criminal underworld would eventually lead him into some dark places. But, hey, you don't have a story until something goes wrong, so I don't hold that against the movie. The film stars two relatively unknown actors and an American treasure. Leo Woodall and Havana Rose Liu are unknowns to most casual fans, though Woodall has starred in TV series like "Prime Target" and "Vladimir" and the movie "Nuremberg." Woodall and Liu perform very well for their roles. And Dustin Hoffman is Dustin Hoffman. He's always great. Hoffman alone is worth watching this movie on a Friday night with a piece of pizza in your hand.Grade: A-Rated R for language throughout, some violence, drug use and brief nudity.•••Bradley Griffith is a local attorney and longtime film buff.