adonis98-743-186503 When i first heard about this film i wasn't so sure if i was going to like it or not but i was way too wrong and harsh with this film because i didn't know what to expect but it was really really good with some really great performances and a great story every heist they did it was brilliant the way they planned every time to hit each bank with different clothes it was awesome and they even went 2 times and robbed the same bank. It's funny, it's sad and action packed a really good heist movie i hope Thomas Jane could make more movies like this the only thing i didn't liked was the ending a little bit but still a very good movie with a good script and a good cast you totally need to see it if you haven't.

Tom Dooley 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 ghettos, 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.

kobusx10 Stander is my favorite movie that nobody seems to know about (even most South Africans).Of all the useless shallow, and meaningless drivel that Hollywood serves up, you would think that an exceptional film like Stander would at least get some recognition.Well, the marketing was just horrible I guess. I tried to get some of my American friends to watch the movie but I didn't have a copy with me, so I looked up the trailer so they could get some idea of what it's about. The only result of this being that we decided that it was the worst movie trailer we'd ever seen.The story of a white, South African police captain who decides to rob banks, set to the backdrop of 70's Apartheid Johannesburg would be a great story on it's own if it were fictional, but incredibly it's a true story. And if you go do some research you will find that the script very accurately follows the original story (with a few additions here and there to help the flow of the film).It's hard to say what is the best aspect of this film, but if I were forced to point out one thing it would be the way that 70's Johannesburg was recreated. From the old cars to the original bank names and crazy hairstyles. The cinematography is also done in such a way that the color is a bit faded out. This makes you feel like you are watching some classic bank robbery movie from the seventies. As a South African myself I found the recreation extremely accurate and detailed, especially for a Canadian film company and director. Johannesburg even looked cleaner, because right now Jo'burg is quite a dirty city.As far as acting goes you never like to see a foreigner playing one of your own countrymen, but Thomas Jane completely blows you away with the best performance of his career. He had the challenge of portraying one of the most complex movie-characters I'd ever encountered and adding to this he also had to put on a very strong South African accent. I couldn't even believe that this was the same man who played the 'Die Hard'-style action hero in 'Deep Blue See'. His accent is close to flawless, much better than Leonardo in 'Blood Diamond' or Tim Robbins.Thomas Jane is also supported by a strong group of supporting actors. The Canadian actress, Kara Unger plays Stander's wife, a character almost as complex as Stander himself and the interaction of the couple is well portrayed. The two other members of the 'Stander Gang' make the movie that much more enjoyable as they bring even more complexity but also humour. The rest of the cast is all South African and this adds to the realism in the film. Most notable of the South African performances are Stander's father, played by Marius Weyers, and Stander's friend in the police force, Captain Cor van Deventer.Stander, in the end is the story of a man in conflict with the world around him, the mistakes of his past and the random cruelty he sees happening all around him. This is a recurring theme emphasized by the line, "The wrong ones do keep dying".I found that I was rooting for Stander all the way, other than in 'Public Enemies' where I had no sympathy for the selfish behaviour of the main character at all.I could keep rambling on about how good the film is but in the end I just want people to spend the 5 dollars and buy the film from Ebay or Itunes, or borrow it from a friend. You will not be disappointed! A warning for sensitive viewers, the riot scenes in Soweto are very graphic and realistic.

Lucien Lessard Andre Stander (Thomas Jane) is one of the youngest police captains in South Africa. He's a dedicated cop until he killed an unarmed protester in a riot from the line of duty. Then he decides to change his profession by rubbing banks until he's gets caught by the same police force he worked with. Once he's in prison, he becomes friends with two criminals Allan Heyl (David O'Hara) and Lee McCall (Dexter Fletcher). They escaped from prison and they becomes one of the most successful criminals of the early 1980's for a brief moment. Which they become anti-heroes to the city. But there's way of crime is coming to end and crime doesn't pay.Directed by Brownen Hughes (Forces of Nature, Harriet the Spy) made an intriguing film with plenty of action and an refreshing sense of humour. Jane, who originally turned down the role at first. He gives an strong performance. Deborah Kara Unger appears as Stander's wife. This UK/Canadian/South Africa co-production didn't received an large released. But this movie will turned into an Cult Following.DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an good-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD also has trailer and an very informative commentary track by the director. This one of the most interesting true-life crime dramas in awhile. Don't miss it. (****/*****).