TUNER
Starring: Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, and Jean Reno
Director: Daniel Roher
NICK
When it comes to Tuner, Dustin Hoffman may get you in the door, but you still walk into a surprisingly good film. Evoking memories of films like Baby Driver, this is just a good time at the movies. Leo Woodall gives perhaps his strongest performance to date, and everything auditory in the film - from its sound design to its jazz infused score - is all top notch. Plus, the aforementioned Hoffman can still steal a scene at 88 years old. Considering this is a debut narrative feature from a documentary filmmaker, this is quite a success.
ADRIANO
I admittedly wasn’t floored with Tuner like others were, and that may have been a victim of expectations more than anything. That said, I still had a blast and found it perfectly serviceable at worst. Clearly playing in Edgar Wright's toybox, the editing and sound work are frenetic and draw you into the protagonist's perspective, with Leo Woodall giving his all. I also found it well written with engaging characters and story progressions, but there was a kick that others had which I didn't get. Hopefully, a second watch will get me there, but for now, I still really liked Tuner.
QUENTIN
There is nothing particularly special or groundbreaking about Tuner, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time. The simple fact is that this is a good, old-fashioned throwback that feels like an elevated mix of 90s favorites Rounders and Grosse Pointe Blank. Given those nostalgic vibes, it’s possible that slightly older (read: millennials) viewers will appreciate it a bit more than the youths; however, between the charming leads, believable romance, jazzy score, lived-in humor, and heist-adjacent elements, it delivers a fun, if formulaic, date movie. Plus, it’s always nice to see Dustin Hoffman having a good time.
AMARÚ
Blending awesome sound design with sweet jazz is a good time. Add in slick talking Dustin Hoffman and that’s a great time. Tuner has all of that (I mean seriously, just listen to the sound design tricks director Daniel Roher utilizes throughout, it’s crazy) plus another great example of Leo Woodall being an up-and-comer you should know. Woodall’s underplayed presence, the brilliant use of his character’s hearing affliction, and Hoffman’s charm lock you into a reluctant crime story you’ve seen plenty of times before. Yet, from Woodall and Havana Rose Liu’s great chemistry to the intense criminal turns, Tuner is still a well-oiled machine.
BODE
Documentary filmmakers making the leap to narrative features is nothing new, but rarely has that pivot led to something as surprising as Tuner. Toronto filmmaker Daniel Roher - best known for his Oscar-winning documentary Navalny - delivers a crime thriller that’s essentially a cross between Good Will Hunting and Baby Driver. While it can be a little too reverent of its influences, it moves with such propulsion and immersion (thanks to Leo Woodall’s strong lead turn, and Johnnie Burn's insane sound design) that I couldn’t help but be swept up by its old-school machinery. It’s a MOVIE movie in the most entertaining sense.
This film was reviewed by Nick, Adriano, and Quentin as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2025 Zurich Film Festival, respectively.