Tuner review, old New York men called Harry (a conspiracy) and how far would you go? #3

I recently saw 'Tuner' in the cinemas and holy moly it was a ride...

Tuner stars Leo Woodall (the guy from One Day, which some of was shot in Edinburgh) as Niki White who has hyperacusis which is like having supersonic hearing, however normal everyday noises causes a lot of pain, forcing him to constantly wear noise cancelling headphones and ear plugs (literally me with mine in the cinema because the music is always SO loud!) 

Leo's character is an amazing pianist turned piano tuner until he is presented with an opportunity to use his medical condition to get into some shady business cracking safes - which of course, doesn't go well. 

The movie's use of audio for this was brilliant, with it switching back and forth, heightening or distorting it to represent what Niki hears and putting the viewer in Niki's position which was very difficult at some parts and you definitely had to cover your ears during these moments. Although it was quite uncomfortable to listen to, I think it was a clever use of immersive storytelling and it wasn't dulling it down (metaphorically and literally) for the viewers pleasure - it made you sympathise with Niki, as we were only hearing a fraction how it must've sounded to him but even then it was very uncomfortable, making you realise how tough it must be to live with his condition. 

The writing and shots were just pitch perfect...(pitch perfect, get it) I love a snappy scene with sharp dialogue and there were a couple of montages within the movie that happened this way which I personally love. Long and dialogue heavy scenes are fine, but I do love how fun a short and sharp scene is, I think it allows the audience a lot more freedom to watch without all the answers given to you. 

Dustin Hoffman who plays Leo's (kind of) father figure Harry owned a lot of these sharp and hilarious moments. There's something about an older New York man being called Harry that tickles me...I think I just hear Danny DeVito's on screen wife (and real life wife apparently?) Zinnia Wormwood shout his name from Matilda in my head  - "Harry!" - if you've seen Matilda, I hope you heard her voice reading that too...I'm pretty sure Danny DeVito also played an older New York man called Harry in that...is Harry a common older New York man name? Or are young New York men called Harry too? Or is it just reserved for older New York men in movies? Wait a minute...in Spider Man wasn't Peter Parker's friend ALSO a New York man called Harry?! I feel like I'm onto something here...this is how I imagine old New York men called Harry greet each other...

These questions burn within me but I don't know any New Yorkers to ask so I'll have to keep my curiousity at bay...okay, now that that's settled, moving on; 

Leo played Niki very well, he brought Niki's quiet nature as well as his almost 'fed up' persona into the film, which makes sense when you hear the story of how he developed his condition, how one day you could wake up and no longer do what you love, settling to be the piano tuner, listening to others do what he longs to do. His character is quite intriguing too, he lives such a quiet existence and yet he finds himself wrapped up in a sticky situation he can't get out of - it really makes you question how far you would go to get out of a tough situation or to help those you love. 

This is something I find so complex and had a conversation about with some friends before I even saw the film. It speaks to a lot of the creative industry, where bending your morals to get ahead is a common occurrence - because yes, obviously we know what's right and what's wrong. However, how far would you go to get out of a situation where you had no other alternative? 

Would you do one tiny thing that may not feel that bad in the grand scheme of things to help your parents out of debt? Or to find enough money to cover rent? Or to pay for a once in a lifetime opportunity that could lead to having a successful career for the rest of your life?

Money (arguably) makes the world go round, so what if you don't have any? (me rn) 

Or in Niki's case, would you crack safes to get the £34 grand you need to help people who are basically family? and finally use your medical condition that stopped you having the career you wanted to give people the life they deserve? It's so tough and this is what Niki grapples with back and forth in the film. 

How far are we willing to go? Especially in the creative industry, where working class folks, minority folks, disabled folks and anyone facing barriers or without the means to support a career that feels like it's only achievable for those who are able bodied, wealthy and fit into the small slither of a person that is socially accepted, create this when they are so many cards stacked against them? Even though they may be so much more passionate and creative than those in the spotlight. Are we just meant to accept this and be the good little working bees the government and capitalism wants us to be without dreaming of anything more? I say no!

But also how heartbreaking and (insert f word in here) up is it that those of us who don't have the means will be presented with these ideas that Niki faces, do you get ahead and potentially end up worse off? Is the risk worth it? or do you stay where you are with your morals intact but potentially lose out? This is the sad reality that keeps the creative arts a middle and upper class privilege (and even then they too will fall into this trap, so who wins?!) 

Anyways - I didn't mean to go full on crash out on you but this is definitely something that has been on my mind recently and Tuner certainly showcased it (not that I'm thinking about doing anything shady - I mean, I once took a single can of chopped tomatoes, a £0.34p can of CHOPPED TOMATOES from the shop without scanning it (someone had opened up the multipacks and so it didn't have a barcode on it and I was too nervous to speak to the employee) and I couldn't sleep for a week and had to tell my therapist about it, genuinely thinking I'd get barred from the shop) so yeah...I'm too scared of authority for that but more so how hard a creative career is when you don't have the means to support it or connections to start it. I don't have the answers but I suppose it's just about belief and not giving up, even when it feels like the world is against you, which is one of the hardest things to practice in our society. But hey, I believe in you! 

Anyways - that's it from me, I was going to talk about some other things but ended up speaking about old men called Harry far longer than I intended to so I'll save it for next week. 

Again, if you feel you've wasted 5 minutes of your day reading my blog and wonder if you'll ever be able to get them back - no they're mine now hehe xox

P.S I just remembered that in Harry met Sally he's also called Harry and lives in New York?! What is happening in the houses of commons! (alright not technically from New York but he moves there in the film!) 

P.S.S ANOTHER ONE - CHARLOTTE'S HUSBAND IN SEX AND THE CITY IS ALSO CALLED HARRY! GUYS! THE CONSPIRACY GOES SO MUCH DEEPER THAN I THOUGHT...

See ya! 

Jorgie x