I found Stander as a quite mediocre biography. There isn't really anything interesting about Thomas Jane's character. Majority of people have rated this with high scores, but to me this was a dissapointment. The story follows the basic formula of these kinds of films. I have to admit that the movie itself was well produced and executed. It's just that I didn't care about the characters. Thomas Jane isn't really an outstanding actor.

I was waiting for this film to arrive in Summer 2005 when the distributors declined to release it nationwide in the UK. I rented it and loved it so much that I've bought at least three extra copies on top of my own, and watched it as many times. None of these copies were for this bargain price though - for three quid, snap it up and pass it on.

It's a true story but as usual, it's all in the way that it's done - there isn't a bad performance from English and American actors who have learned their Afrikaans accents well alongside local actors, and the excellent director commentary gives added factual background considering it was only made a decade after South Africa began to change.

I'm a fan of the film, but it was worth the wait - shame I didn't get to watch it on the big screen.

An instant classic Stander takes a little while to settle but once it does its a smooth action packed movie based on true events it tells the tale of a white cop in South Africa who loses his faith in the justice they serve after he witnesses innocent killings begins masterminding more and more audacious bank robberies and befriending outlaws Allan Heyl and Lee McCall so becoming the Stander gang they go on a spree becoming the biggest bank robbers in South Africa and Folk hereos in the process untill his eventual downfall superbly acted by the entire cast however Thomas Jane is a stand out in the title role at least the equal of any movie of the genre a must buy

Stander, really took me by surprise, I didn't what to expect from it. Based on the real life story of Andre Stander, a South African police captain who turns to a life of crime. Stander really is a remarkable film as it starts off as a serious drama and develops into a humourous but still grounded thriller.

But the revelation on this film for me was Tom Jane, in the main role as Stander. Tom Jane always struck me a cheesy Hollywood actor starring silly action movies but here, he is absolutely brilliant, affecting a totally convicing South African accent, he totally embodies his character, his performance is dramatic, humourful, suspensful and just superb.

Another thing I loved about this film is the score by David Holmes, which is really amazing (in fact I'd put it on as a must have, if I could get it anywhere!) its really bizzare and funky.

All in all Stander is a great film and one of the best crime-action-comedy-drama films I've seen in recent years.