Ashley Taylor, At Botha, David O'Hara

Stander is the compelling, true story of Andre Stander (superbly played by Tom--formerly Thomas--Jane), an Apartheid-era, South African police captain whose disgust over official repression of ...( read more  read more... )the nation's black majority--and his own, lethal participation in those policies--leads to his career as a bank robber. Captured, imprisoned, and on the run after a successful escape, Stander joins two partners (Dexter Fletcher, David Patrick O'Hara) in a long string of bank heists across the country, uncertain of his destiny but yearning for his estranged wife (Deborah Unger). Co-screenwriter and director Bronwen Hughes (Forces of Nature) can't quite overcome the built-in redundancy of the film's latter half (lots of robberies, lots of disguises). But despite all the gunplay, Stander is most interesting for its understated fascination with the enigma of its anti-hero, who wreaks havoc yet is peculiarly committed to atoning--at great pain--for those actions he considers most unethical. --Tom Keogh

Flixster Users

79% liked it

827 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

62 critics

R, 116 min.

Directed by: Bronwen Hughes

Release Date: December 31, 2003

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DVD Release Date: December 21, 2004

Stats: 280 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (280)


  • September 25, 2009
    A really clever film, a true story too! Thomas Jane?s best performance to date!
  • September 18, 2008
    Great character piece and early performance by Thomas Jane
  • June 28, 2008
    Maybe Thomas Jane's greatest performance to date. Beautiful film, although it can be tiring.
  • August 6, 2007
    Great story, Jane does a great job. I love the story behind this movie, stalls at time, but when its moving it keeps you glued.
  • June 12, 2007
    I bought this sight-unseen and turned out to really like it. Deborah Kara Unger can't really pull of the South Afircan accent, but otherwise this movie is areally good. I just wish it didn't end on such a down note. Oh well. It was still really good, and was peppered with humour.
  • October 8, 2009
    its magic







    great movie
  • January 9, 2009
    Excellent portrayal. Again, strange to see familiar surroundings through a film.
  • December 30, 2008
    A great bank robbery film that flew under the radar.
  • August 8, 2008
    Based on the true story story of Andre Stander. Compelling viewing of the South Afican cop who turns his back on the law and turns to a life of crime robbing banks
  • July 9, 2008
    A smart, solid, dramatic heist film with meaty, realistic characters and a wicked story line. Well worth the watch, especially because it has brains and is set in South Africa and not a generic Western country. Thomas Jane is the new MAN!

Critic Reviews


May 4, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

A rather entertaining (if style-over-substance) portrait of insane illicitness. full review

View more Stander reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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