Stander

Stander is a decent crime flick about a respected cop who stopped believing in the system and turned to a life of crime. Though the film doesn’t offer anything new, it does wrap up the old in a nicer package than many of its more ambitious siblings (especially the dreadful 3000 Miles to Graceland). That said, it would have benefitted from a bit of editing – it has already become repetitive by the time we get to the fifth bank robbery and they still have one more bank to go. Thomas Jane is fine and he does a good job of carrying the whole film. There are hints of relationship psychology (the love between the honest father and the “fallen” son), but the dynamic action and laid-back music remain at the fore. The film is helped quite a lot by the “based on a true story” label. In the cinema and with some expectations, it would be purely average, but at home it's worthy of a good three stars. (05/19/2005)