Originally Published: 2004-12-05

A terrific true-life story that features, unfortunately, unconvincing dialogue and some awkward performances, Bronwen Hughes' Stander would've benefited from a tighter script. That said, the film is fascinating viewing.
In 1976 Andre Charles Stander (Thomas Jane) was the youngest Captain in the Johannesburg Police Force. While serving on Riot Duty to quell protests, he was involved in the killing of an unarmed black youth. This had such a profound effect on him that, in protest, he began robbing banks. Finally, his partner and closest friend, Cor van Deventer, realized that Andre was the criminal and arrested him in 1979, where he was sentenced to 75 years of hard labour. However, prison only served to introduce Andre to his future partners in crime: Allan Heyl (David Patrick O'Hara) and Patrick "Lee" McCall (Dexter Fletcher). Four years later, Stander and McCall engineered a daring prison escape only to boldly return two months later to liberate Heyl. What had once been a one-man operation, now became the "Stander Gang". Together, the three men would rob a total of more than 20 banks in six months. Ultimately a twist of fate and bad luck would be the downfall of the gang.
Though Jane has the action-star good looks, in Stander he could've benefited from a few more words to let the viewer understand his motivations. And wasted completely is Deborah Kara Unger as Stander's wife, with a very small role.
But as a peek into a little-known (on this side of the Atlantic at least) episode of South African history, Stander is certainly worth seeing.

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