Tuner (15)

Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall make quite the pair in in an offbeat rom-com turned heist thriller, that’s far better than it sounds.

Harry Horowitz (Hoffman) is losing his hearing, while his shy apprentice Niki White (Woodall) has a condition called hyperacusis, which obliges him to wear special noise-cancelling earplugs at all times. Even the slightest sounds bother him, but despite that, this pair are the best piano tuners in town. Niki begins a blossoming romance with music student Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu); the light-hearted, bouncy tone of the opening where we see him undertaking various tuning jobs with her helps you buy into their natural chemistry.

It lends Niki a special knack for this practice. He makes nothing of at first, until he finds out his condition can help him crack safes. A bunch of shady Israelis, led by Uri (Lior Raz) quickly ropes him into their small-time criminal enterprise, which involves swiping cash and luxury items. Niki relents after learning that Harry, currently hospitalised after a heart attack, has $36,000 in past due medical bills.

Tuner is reminiscent of Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy with its stylish, fast-cut montages and energetic pacing.