Sample People
Sample People
| 11 May 2000 (USA)
Sample People Trailers

Sample People is an upbeat dramatic thriller that follows four groups of Sydney-siders as they seek escape routes over one sweltering weekend. 'Len the dreamer' who stutters shyly just wants the gorgeous DJ Lush Puppy. Sem is a funky musician who has a premonition warning him that his girlfriend, Cleo, is in danger. He just wants to get them both out of their inner-city world. Andy is the charismatic drifter who's conned his way through life and stolen money from his boss, TT. He just wants to head up the coast with TT's girlfriend, Jess, but seems to be falling deeper into a love triangle of drugs and delusion. Finally, there's Joey, a TV affected homeboy, who reveals to his best friend Gus that he's got a gun and will use it sooner or later. The inevitable moment will arrive whin his violent gangster fantisies become reality. As the lives of our heroes become dramatically entwined, the consequences of their actions ricochet off each other.

Reviews
thegovernator

Within the first 2 minutes I have sustained a headache from the sheer crapness of it. Now I am writing this. It is just one of those really bad Australian movies which compels you to change the channel immediately, but usually you have to end up watching as nothing else is on. In the same context as one of those stupid American TV dramas (that I cant believe anyone could be bothered watching) although different.It isn't very good and that's a shame. Plus Kylie is barely in it and seems to have regressed back to her bad acting days in Neighbours.That is all. Avoid.

... View More
Floydoid

Is this movie ever an assault on the senses and sensibilities, as it portrays a slice of Australian subculture. Supposedly set in Sydney, but actually filmed in South Australia, this explores an array of characters, or caricatures, some of which are intentionally funny (such as the Indian kebab shop owner), and some not (the tragi-comic bisexual guy who keeps getting beaten up). All of which is set against the rave / drugs / gangland culture.Kylie Minogue is cast against type as a sexually frustrated gangster's moll, in a manner reminiscent of Helena Bonham Carter in Fight Club, but she is underused, and one feels if given the chance she could have turned in a powerful and memorable performance.This is nicely photographed and edited, and has a good soundtrack. It's just a pity the story didn't make more sense.Not comfortable watching, but certainly worth a look if you're in an upbeat mood.I rate it 7/10.

... View More
LJ

I saw this movie based on its likeness to the movie "Go", a movie which also didn't do remarkably but I still enjoy. This film deserves more credit than its received, both in box office revenue and reviews. Admittedly, the plot does have more than its share of conventions, and some of the events in the film are more than improbable. However, the characters, in their stereotypes, each serve well to represent a certain type of person that you might meet (and i have met) out in the Australian party scene. There's the way-freaky and a bit too open cross-dresser, the down to earth guy, the tripped out hippie girlfriend, the sought-after DJ girl, the really REALLY weird guy, and then you get into the Kylie Minogue storyline and admittedly, things take a turn for the worse. However, one of the greatest parts of the film itself is the style of cinematography shown. Some of the camera angles are a little raw, a little experimental, but more often than not does well to portray what's happening at the time. If you pick this movie up with an open mind and looking for a movie just to kick back and enjoy for a reasonably visceral but not all too insightful good time, than you should have no worries. If you're looking for something to change your life, I'd recommend something else, unless you're thinking of taking up DJing in Sydney.

... View More
ptb-8

What a nasty cynical film. Apparently this sad excuse for a dramatic urban look at what 20 year olds do whilst crawling through the gutter of Sydney nightlife is supposed to be somehow connecting with its target market. Made by some Industry nobody and pals who seemingly thought they could cobble together any sleazy behavior with a young cast and pour it into multiplexes, SAMPLE PEOPLE deservedly failed miserably at the Australian box office. It is so offensive in its clichéd depictions of obvious and easy targets it was fully rejected by the very audience it was intended. Shoddy and cruel and with no attempt to offer quality or resonance to the young audience who might have been attracted by the marketing or casting SAMPLE PEOPLE might have been interesting or even informative if not botched by its exploitive view of 'what teens want to see in a movie'. The character played by Ben Mendelsohn is particularly offensive and Kylie Minogue is again wasted by poor material and untalented film makers. It is as if the producers thought teens would watch any ugly trash and just slung-together scenes and characters who were shallow and soul less. Well the were very wrong. A mini budget film made in 1983 called GOING DOWN got this topic right and is an excellent antidote to this poison.

... View More