Sample People (2000)
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.
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Wonderful Movie
Undescribable Perfection
everything you have heard about this movie is true.
Absolutely Brilliant!
Incredible that such a film was made with such talented actors (all twelve of them) and such a terrible script. The story can best be called juvenile - feels like the first attempt of an eighteen year old with no experience and big self delusions. The script completely falls apart in the last ten minutes, reducing itself to inappropriate clichés such as guns and overdoses (what is she exactly overdosing on? - seems more like epilepsy). Why did a bunch of experienced actors agree to participate? Perhaps it was money? But who would be stupid enough to finance this? The film is further compromised by being filmed in Adelaide and thereby loses all "scene credibility" (Dogs in Space holds up better). The shots of Sydney are transparently introduced at various intervals.There are one or two interesting scenes that ring true. Otherwise this movie feels like a telemovie. And why are the colours so enhanced and blurry? What did this achieve? PS: I gave this 9/10 because i'm horribly biased (towards Australian counter culture films however abysmal).
I really enjoyed this film. Think of a cross between Go, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Two Hands. The action didn't let up and the characters were all given life by a strong cast of young and old hands. I enjoyed the chaos and the messiness, and I think the low-budget feel of the film adds to rather than detracts from its appeal. For those of you who get the film out on the basis of Kylie being on the cover, you'll be disappointed. Although she plays a strong character, screen-time is shared pretty evenly throughout the cast. She's back to her grass roots here. Standout performers for me were Simon Lyndon, Paula Arundell, Nathan Page and Matt Wilkinson but the whole cast's effort was the highlight of this film.
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsWhat a big name star like Kylie Minogue is doing headbilling an ultra low-budget film like Sample People is astounding.It seems to have a budget of about $410.It's also kind of deceptive advertising,because she's hardly the main star of the show in it.The soundtrack's quite entertaining and there are some interesting characters,but the sheer plotlessness of it is what bogs it down.In the end,it certainly leaves you wondering if you should expect to see a similar sort of film starring Russell Crowe in the near future.If nothing else at least.**
Isn't a sample what a doctor gets you to take to the lab when you've had food poisoning? Ideal name for the movie. This movie had too much blood, too many people getting shot and then being fine. Kylie Minogue's character didn't let her act as well as we've seen her in (even) Neighbours. The best character seemed to be Phil, the Indian kebab shop owner, mainly because he stayed out of trouble. I don't think I'll try to see this one again.