Stander [DVD]

Bad acting, slow, boring, terrible picture quality, uninteresting story... big disappointment. we just didn't even finish it. Thomas Jane is a one good movie star (The punisher). I also don't care for his blonde hair. It doesn't make him look masculine enough. The other actors were, I guess, whoever would work cheap, because none of them had any talent. UGH!

The entire premise of a cop who becomes sick of his role in a sick system, or alternate reality was worth it, even if it was partially embeleshed from the true history in the 1970. Apartheid was - and still is - a sick system. But also in the US, now in 2000 - 2022 we have been growing a sick system, a de-facto discriminatory system which pretends to be democracy. Poverty is widespread, with 1% of the population controlling the wealth and the other 99% of the population, as well (it doesn't matter which of the two major parties you prefer). It was never so lopsided in Apartheid South Africa.Some of the other reviewers didn't like the acting. But there is a bigger and deeper picture which goes beyond that. Besides, it's a movie: what do you expect?

while I can understand his frustration with apartheid SA that in and of itself does not explain why this cop went off the deep end? In the 6 month run the gang had it doesn't seem as though they even enjoyed the spoils, oh sure they bought stuff - kind of stupid high maintenance stuff! Stander obviously felt guilty for the murder of a black man so much so that he takes a beating from his victims father....this could be the one redeeming quality of this film? He wasn't a revolutionary and his criminal run seemed self indulgent no redemption for himself or the ones he oppressed he died in the street like a common thief, sad really.

full male nude frontal not even ten minutes into the movie. woman next to him fully clothed. not sure why this is considered acceptable, as this is considered a serious crime in real life.

into thinking that S Africa became great bc of 33' Freemason Mandela. The country is in worse shape than ever with blacks now killing white farmers etc. Apartheid there is not over. Tom Jane does a great job here, very smart character, only wish he'd gotten away with it as he was a bit of a Robin Hood. Recommend.

Stander was a very good film about the real-life exploits of Andre Stander, Lee McCall and Allan Heyl who were known collectively as The Stander Gang. The Stander Gang was well-known for their daring and reckless bank robberies in their homeland of South Africa. The film stars Tom Jane (The Punisher, Deep Blue Sea) as the title character with Dexter Fletcher (Band of Brothers and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and David Patrick O'Hara (Braveheart) rounding out the rest of the Stander Gang.The film starts off introducing Andre Stander as a highly decorated member of the South African Police Force in the late 1970's and the beginning of the anti-apartheid movement. It shows Andre Stander's growing disgust and disenchantment in his government's racist apartheid policies and his own role in enforcing it. After a violent and brutal break-up of an anti-apartheid protest gathering where Stander kills a protestor, the film begins to move into meat of the story. Stander's disenchantment with the government causes him to commit bank robberis in audacious fashion as a way to rebel and defy the very state he has sworn to protect and serve.The scenes where Stander commits these bank robberies were shot well and showed just how daring Andre Stander really was in his exploits. There's even a sequence where he returns to the scene of his most recent crime to investigate the robbery. A robbery he just committed just hours before during his lunchtime. These scenes and the later ones when he's joined by two other bank robbers shows Tom Jane at his finest. I think many would be hard-pressed not to think Jane's performance as a South African, accent and all, wasn't authentic. His charisma ruled throughout the film and was mostly evident through the many bank robbing sequences. He truly gave Andre Stander the air of a Robin Hood character who, despite his criminal acts, became a sort of folk antihero.The second half of the film details the exploits of Stander after his incarceration for his bank robberies while a captain of the South African Police Force. It's here that we meet the rest of Stander's Gang as he recruits fellow inmate and outlaws Lee McCall and Allan Heyl. Even the way Stander engineers his escape from the work-prison he has been sent to shows his daring in thumbing his nose at the state and the police he used to be a part of. Dexter Fletcher was very good as the twitchy and less stable Lee McCall whose nerves begin to fray the bolder and bolder the gangs bank robberies become. David Patrick O'Hara was also good as the very professional bank robber Allan Heyl. Heyl didn't have the charisma that Stander had, but he was the rock which kept the robberies from spiraling out of their control. It was great to see O'Hara in another strong role. Some might recognize him as the scene-stealing Stephen, the Irish rebel who joins William Wallace's fight against the English during Mel Gibson's Braveheart.The rest of the film was pretty much one bank robbery after the other with the Stander Gang always one step ahead of the police task force put together to capture them. In a twist of fate, the task force was headed by Stander's former friend in the police force Cor Van Deverter whose intimate knowledge of Stander's tactics and thought-processes helps in slowly closing the noose around the gang. There's abit of a repitition in the robberies and the getaways, but they serve an important purpose of slowly building up the Stander Gang's folkhero status amongst the population. It also showed the effect it had on some of the members of the gang. As popular and infamous the gang had become they were still outlaws who knew that sooner or later their luck would run out and they'd either be put back into prison or killed outright. For some it was the latter and for others the former.Throughout the film, one could sense that some of the motivations behind Andre Stander's actions as a bank robber was to assuage his guilt over the sanctioned acts of brutality he had to perform to protect the apartheid government of his nation. The film and the story being told was almost a full-lenght film of Stander's attempt to make up for his past transgressions. And what better way to do this than use the system of the state against itself. He himself points out that a white man could get away with anything when most of the policemen in the city were called away to deal with an emergency regarding the black majority population. Stander realizes this to be true and his second career as a bank robber was born. The film only hints at him being a very good policeman, but the majority of the film shows just how much better he was as a criminal.The film was expertly directed by Bronwen Hughes and as said earlier had strong performances from all the main leads in the film. The story rarely slowed down to the point that the story lost its direction. Every scene always led to the next part of the story being told until the very bitter end. Stander was a very good film anchored by a fine performance from Tom Jane. The film showed a brief glimpse into South Africa's apartheid past and how one individual's decision to defy the state led to a brief, but daring life of a modern-day Robin Hood.

Great movie with great acting. Only thing is... story isnt factual at all. took a d-bag and turned him into a hero. (factually speaking) but does have great re-watch value. Does have incredible acting. Also keeps you involved, and makes you care about the characters. Just a shame the real dude wasnt the same guy portrayed in the movies. Unless he really was, and the South African Gov. had a problem with the story. Who knows?

Based on a true story of a South African cop who has a change of heart after a bungled riot control operation, this film goes against many of the stereotypes of films based on "reality" but which are, in fact, highly fictionalized versions of the truth, with a bit of truth thrown in.The story of Stander, former cop turned bank robber, stands apart because it is believable and generally compelling. You can't help but watch to find out how his story ends, what will happen and WHY he does what he does. The film doesn't reveal all but that is fine. Perhaps there weren't any absolute answers as to WHY Stander did what he did. Perhaps his behavior mystified him as much as anyone (the film hints at that).I can see why this one didn't reach more people, as the accents can make it hard to understand some of the dialogue. There are also some slower parts that are necessary for understanding Stander but which viewers might find wearisome (I did not).This is far above most of the "highly acclaimed" movies you'll find at the theatre or your local DVD/video/game store. It is well worth seeking out, especially if you like something with plenty of action and suspense but which is also a bit different.

Andre Stander was a happily married Captain in the South African Police during the dark days of apartheid. He worked at a time when it was compulsory to do `riot duty' in the township ghettoes, this is covered in the film. Then he decided one day to rob a bank and by all accounts he ruddy well loved it. He went on a massive crime spree - but it was not too long before his erstwhile colleagues caught him - but the adventure was not about to end because of a pesky prison sentence - this purports to tell his story.Now I say purports because there has been a bit of licence taken with his actual story, which was obviously a deliberate choice of the film makers, but if this whets your appetite then do check him out further. Portrayed as a frustrated Robin Hood sometimes, and a clear career criminal at others he appears to have been someone that was hard to define in any neat way.The film though is really well made with great period detail and some fine performances and indeed accents - Thomas Jane as Stander shows what an impressive actor he can be and why he should get better gigs. Ably supported by Dexter Fletcher and Deborah Kara Unger as Stander's wife Bekkie; this is for those who like a bit of a thriller and a bit of realism thrown into the mix - one I missed first time round and am glad I finally got to see it.

My wife is South African, and her dad was once involved in the hunt for Stander, so when I found this on Amazon... well, I had to get it.This is a solid action film, managing to not only depict the seventies without falling to cliché, but almost feeling like it could have been made then. Some will doubtless take issue with the Stander gang being depicted as largely sympathetic, but with two dead and one in prison, the "crime does not pay" message nevertheless comes across loud and clear.In tone, the film has a nice balance, managing to convey a serious message while never feeling bogged down in didactics; there's always an undertone of typically South African humour to take the edge off the more grimdark elements. Particular highlights are the scenes that are classic Stander; returning (as an investigating officer) to his own crime scenes, and pulling a handbrake turn to go back to a bank he just robbed after hearing on the radio of a hidden safe he missed.Those who have been to South Africa are likely to be particularly interested - my wife is from Durban, so when we near the end of the film spotted the front of the Blue Waters (a notable Durban hotel) transplanted to "Fort Lauderdale"... well, it's nice to recognise things.All in all, a film well worth watching. And rewatching.

Frequently miscast as an action hero, the edgy Thomas Jane hits character paydirt with this gripping crime caper.Jane plays Andre Stander, a real life 70's South African Police Captain turned Bank robber.Stander was one of the least watched and most amazing films of the year. Tom Jane gives a startling, heart ripping, pulse pounding portrayal of outlaw Andre Stander. Stander was the notorious Johannesburg police officer shocked and revolted by what he witnessed as an officer in apartheid driven South Africa. To prove what's wrong Stander embarks on a career of crime - bank robberies to be specific, and he finds he's good at it. Very good indeed.Though we know what he's doing is inherently wrong, one cannot not route for Stander as he and his gang become more and more daring and flamboyant with their bank heists.The supporting cast is up to the challenge and Deborah Kara Unger gives a standout performance as Stander's much put-upon wife whom he never stops loving.Rare is the film that combines such strong social and political commentary with rip-roaring action adventure. This is a truly remarkable effort from director Bronwyn Hughes who'd previously given us fluff like "Harriet the Spy" and the Ben Affleck challenged "Forces of Nature." If she makes more films like "Stander" - she could be collecting gold statuettes.

This is based on the true story ofSouth African cop, turned bankrobber...this a good and tight movie. It movesvery quickly, and has a great music trackby DJ David Holmes...For fans of GOOD crime drama...

This is the kind of movie that i love: no one has ever heard of it, but it's really good. It's like opening the pocket of an old jacket and finding inside it 10 bucks!An excellent performance by Thomas Jane, that is perfect for this role (as he was completely miscast for The Punisher). A good script, nice direction, solid supporting cast, good rhythm, action and funny moments. With these elements, you can't go wrong.Other reviewers have told anything you need to know about the story (which goes deeper than the average movie of this kind, given the social contest in which the story takes place), so i'll simply say that i really enjoyed this movie and that it was a nice surprise. I often go hunting for unkown movies on Amazon.co.uk and sometimes i'm lucky and i find a hidden gem, like this one.Technically, the DVD is ok. Better the audio (with a nice and unusual soundtrack, that really gets you in the mood) than the video (not bad, however). There are english subtitles for the hard of hearing (movie only).Definitely recommended!