Stander Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Very different & very, very good!

A wonderfully atmospheric film that is made even more fascinating by the fact that the story is largely true. A wonderfully charismatic performance by Thomas Jane as the lead Andre Stander.

A Lekker flik

A real step back in time to 80's SA.

Excellent movie, well acted and uncanilly true to life.

Highly recommended!

Fantastic Film

What makes this film work is the fact that the true story it's based on plays like a great pitch for a movie. This means that unlike a lot of clunky bio-pics which try to spice up real events, this film doesn’t have to.

I loved the 70's feel to it and the cinematography and stylish visuals add to the whole. Also watch out for Dexter Fletcher in a great supporting role.

An unusual and interesting UK / Canada / South Africa co-production that deserves to do better on DVD that its practically non existent cinema run.

Surprisingly good!

I didn't think that I would like this film but after a slowish start I found myself enjoying it more and more.

What makes this story all the more amazing is the fact that it's based on a true story about a police officer turned super crook. Thomas Jane gives an excellent performance as Stander and if you give the film a chance I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Very good action film

True life story of a South African copper who flips whilst shooting kids and other black folk in Tembisa during the 70s Appartheid riots and turns to a life of crime, robbing banks. The story is pretty amazing and you wouldn't believe it's true, but it is and the film matches the story for most of the way. The riot scene at the beginning of the film is outstanding and when the film glides into heist territory, it smoothly engages itself in an Ocean's Eleven feel. Slick, stylish and funny this film is rocking, until about the last 30/40 minutes when it lost it a bit. With no real character development in the film it starts to lurch from being a very good turn into a turn that doesn't quite give the pay off that the first half of the film had promised. A good entertaining action flick though and you don't get to say that too often these days.

Nice surprise

Like Ghandi in a fist fight, the odds weren't good for this one. Thomas Jane has never really shone as an actor in a film (despite being consistently solid) and Bronwen Hughes' last film was 'Forces of Nature' - but 'Stander' was ace. Jane really brought depth to the lead character and Hughes wasn't afraid to take a more edgier approach to the subject material. Humour, tension, strong characterisation, based on a true story - it all works. Though not as vioent as 'Chopper', there were similarities both in subject matter and execution. Don't watch 'The Punisher', watch 'Stander'. And don't come crying to me if you get that mixed up.

Lekker flik, vyf ster

I spent 20 years in South Africa and remember the Stander gang getting into the media at the time due to their audacity to rob a second bank in the very street that the SAP were investigating the first one they had robbed. The political theme is either inserted to make the film politically correct, or it was really the view held by Stander - but I find that a little hard to swallow knowing the views generally held by Afrikaners at that time, the height of the apartheid and 'swart gevaar' years. Enjoyed it though, as did my son who has never been to South Africa.

A worth while watch sadly overlooked by the Blockbuster crowd.

Based on true to life story of Andre Stander (played by Thomas Jane aka The Punisher), a South African police officer turned cheeky, brass balled, bank robber.

The film is set but not overpowered with 1980's apartheid South Africa and follows Stander through his crisis of conscience to become a bank robber not a million miles from Leonardo Di Caprios uber cheeky and inventive Frank Abagnale Jr in Catch me if you can.

A worth while watch sadly overlooked by the Blockbuster crowd.

Rent at all costs

Loved it. More than anything i loved the pace. It doesnt drag on at all, as would be expected of films that document a series of bank robberies, but instead changes every 10 minutes keeping me delightfully interested. The acting is very strong, and aside from showing his rear end a little too much, Thomas Jane's performance is flawless, his face accuratley documenting the shift from happily married cop to an unhinged bank thief. There are few weaknesses in the film (the cover of the DVD the only sign of sparing expense) but one does wonder if a bank robber would be successfull in maintaining anonymity with Jane's strong cleft chin and strange hair styles, and if like me, you have spent a lot of time in SA the accents aren't completely accurate, but to the common observer they are fine, although if the accents were as strong as in reality; then i'd have to laugh, in the same way as if Thomas Jane were to do his best scouse impression, as Boers speak in amusingly high pitches.

from my living room

Excellent movie. Could not fault it. A must see film.