Robberies, love and cinephilia to the rhythm of jazz

Although it is set in present-day New York and stars a charming young couple, Un talento único seems conceived to stir the nostalgia of veteran cinephiles, those who in the 90s enjoyed the regular release of intimate films with characters facing vital, emotional, and moral dilemmas. In this sense, the story of a meticulous piano tuner who suffers from a hearing impairment and discovers an ability to pick locks is reminiscent of the uplifting drama As Good as It Gets – the tuner finds salvation in the love of a pianist – as well as the mix of crime thriller and quirky comedy from Manhattan Murder Mystery.

To spice up the sense of cinematic déjà vu, eclectic Canadian director Daniel Roher exhibits his sensitivity in portraying marginal characters – he won an Oscar for the documentary Navalny

– and demonstrates his good musical taste – in 2019 he directed a documentary about The Band and in Un talento único he fills the soundtrack with themes by jazz legend Herbie Hancock, who also makes a cameo appearance. Everything works in this entertaining and romantic urban fable starring Dustin Hoffman as a luxury supporting actor, but a final stretch with too much dramatic affectation – which was foreseeable given the film's tendency to overuse visual effects – ends up slightly diluting the balsamic effect of the proposal.