This edgy Australian film stars an ensemble cast headed up by pop superstar Kylie Minogue, David Field, and Simon Lyndon. Various characters interact under strange circumstances, calling to ... Read allThis edgy Australian film stars an ensemble cast headed up by pop superstar Kylie Minogue, David Field, and Simon Lyndon. Various characters interact under strange circumstances, calling to mind movies such as GO and PULP FICTION.This edgy Australian film stars an ensemble cast headed up by pop superstar Kylie Minogue, David Field, and Simon Lyndon. Various characters interact under strange circumstances, calling to mind movies such as GO and PULP FICTION.
- Awards
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Featured reviews
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
What 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.**
What 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.**
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.
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.
First: The recent campaigning of this movie is a huge hoax. Judging from the cover you'd think this was some kind of scandal movie about Kylie playing a character having sex, taking drugs and whatever. This is just a cheap market-scheme. She's barely in it and does neither of the things. The marketing here is unbelievable, and I'm surprised the filmmakers hasn't objected.
The movie itself was to me a huge disappointment. It seemed like a Sunset Beach episode directed sloppy-handed by a teenage Quentin Tarantino. And thats not meant as a compliment, mind you.
I think the weakness of the movie first of all is the story. It seems to be about nothing. Just about cool teenagers tripping around living 'on the edge'. The characters themselves does have some personality though, but the movie doesn't use its potential. As said, there's no story of any substance here. It seems to elaborate too much on cool dialog and ends up looking like a colorful MTV ad. It definitely has that feeling.
Still though, I guess some people might enjoy it, but I'd say there's far better movies like this around.
The movie itself was to me a huge disappointment. It seemed like a Sunset Beach episode directed sloppy-handed by a teenage Quentin Tarantino. And thats not meant as a compliment, mind you.
I think the weakness of the movie first of all is the story. It seems to be about nothing. Just about cool teenagers tripping around living 'on the edge'. The characters themselves does have some personality though, but the movie doesn't use its potential. As said, there's no story of any substance here. It seems to elaborate too much on cool dialog and ends up looking like a colorful MTV ad. It definitely has that feeling.
Still though, I guess some people might enjoy it, but I'd say there's far better movies like this around.
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.
This movie is such a waste of time. The characters are cliched and the acting is pretty much non existant with exception of a few (Simon Lyndon, Kylie Minogue and Nathan Page stand out). It seems like the director has just watched "Go" and "Trainspotting" and tried to create a Frankenstein like movie, with disastrous results. The drug scenes are supposed to be hard hitting but is nothing more than you could see on any other drug related movie. So far you're probably thinking this movie is still watchable, which it is-just. But before you rush out and see it I'll warn you of Ben Mendelson's attrocious performance. He is by far the most annoying character ever to be seen in an Australian movie. Ever.It's moments like this that make you think how and why a movie like this gets financed and also made it to the cinemas. In conclusion I thought this movie was trying too hard to be cool and edgy that it forgot to add plot and character depth. It would seem that the sudden surge of Australian actors setting off for Hollywood(Toni Collette in "The 6th Sense", Russell Crowe in "Gladiator" and "The Insider" as well as Heath Ledger in "The Patriot")seems to be because of the crud that is being made in Australia. Australia needs to create some great roles for up and coming actors before we lose our young stars to Hollywood forever. I give Sample people 5/10 and thats being VERY kind.
Did you know
- TriviaInitially, producer Emile Sherman wanted actor Ben Mendelsohnto play the character of Andy who in the end was portrayed by actor Simon Lyndon. Writer-director Clinton Smith said: "But he always gets blokey roles so I wanted to cast him against type and he just fell in love with this camp goth, glam punk character."
- ConnectionsReferences Doctor Who (1963)
- SoundtracksTake A Long Line
(John Brewster (as J.Brewster) / Rick Brewster (as R.Brewster) / Doc Neeson (as D.Neeson))
(c)1978 J. Albert & Son Pty Ltd All rights reserved
Performed by Grinspoon
Grinspoon appears courtesy of Universal Music Australia Pty ltd
- How long is Sample People?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- A$2,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 37m(97 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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