Customer Reviews
Really pleasantly surprised by this, a must-see - By: L. Green, 03 Sep 2008 
Barcode: 5031932106428
I went into this film as a massive Kylie fan, but aside from knowing she was in it, i knew very little else as to what to expect. What i found was something completely enchanting. Sample People is instant, fun, quirky & possesses a rough, pieced together nature to it which i found fascinating.
I've seen this film compared to Pulp Fiction, & in terms of its multi character driven story & gunpoint showdown in a shop, it does have many similarities, but the overalll feel of the film is generallly pretty different. On the outlook it's got a gritty urban vibe to it that counterplays brilliantly against a kind of colourful Fifth Element style quirkiness with some delightful dashes of comedy thrown in for good measure.
Let's start with Kylie, seeing as she is used as the main promotional pull for this film. Well, in Sample People, Kylie swears, Kylie points a gun, & alll the while looking effortlessly gorgeous. It's fair to say that the way this DVD is marketed with Kylie's name at the top of the credits is a bit misleading as her role, though important to the storyline, is ultimately quite smalll. That said though, its a fair better showcase for her acting talents than Street Fighter was.
The feel of this film reallly suits her & she plays the role of trapped gansters' moll perfectly - i reallly enjoyed seeing her play quite a dark, moody character, so far removed from her bubbly, pop-princess music persona. This is no mere celeb-casting 1 scene cameo, it's an actual full-blooded role & Kylie more than does it justice.
I found alll the other actors' performances reallly good too, very naturalistic - capturing just the right middle ground between understated & larger than life. That brings me to the overalll look & feel of the film, something that stands very much at the centre of the whole thing & probably defines it more than any of the characters do. The film is alive with colour & the camera-work catches the scenes in a dreamy flow that reflects the drug-fueled theme of the story itself.
It's a rough, rawness - a shapshot of urban life that is simply enchanting. I'd compare it to stuff like Chung-King Express or Run Lola Run - Sample People's got that same, pieced together, slightly surreal outlook & going into this film with no idea what to expect i found it extremely refreshing to see something like this instead of some typical Hollywood-style action/crime flick.
And what about the characters? As i said before, alll are acted very well, but in this film, which is not only quite short (only an hour & a half) but also extremely fast-paced - they do feel slightly undeveloped. You feel empathy towards them but very little backstory or motives are established at alll so you always feel as if you are looking on through a window, never in the action with them - i barely remember many of their names either.
Having watched the film though, the story did in many ways feel pretty secondary to everything else. It wasn't essential to fully understand to enjoy the film. That alll comes in the visual aspect & the character interaction. Right up to the edge-of-your-seat tension of the blood daubed final showdown, i found this an immensely entertaining film. Maybe you're looking for something a little bit off the beaten track or maybe like me, you were just a curious Kylie fan, but either way, Sample People is well worth watching. Great soundtrack too!
Excellent Piece of Cinema - By: , 28 Nov 2005 I think this was an excellent & acurate portrayal of the lives of twenty-somethings in a seedy inner city area. It reminded me a lot of my home, Brixton in London.
The acting was weak in parts, notably the interactions between Jess (Kylie Minogue) & Andy (Simon Lyndon),mainly due to a weak script. But on their were some excellent performances. Paula Arundell (Cleo), Ghandi Macintyre (Phill) & Nathan Page(Len) alll gave good performances. I would like to have seen more from Nathalie Roy (DJ Lush Puppy) whose part should have been bigger.
The Soundtrack was amazing as was the camera direction & the genreal atmosphere of the film.
A Bloody Good FIlm - By: Winston Smith, 28 Apr 2003 If you want a mastabatory aid for you "Miss Minogue" fantasy do not buy this film, You will be disappointed! If on the other hand you want a cult Australian CLASIC on a par with "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" then this is for you.
It is compulsory that the first time you watch this film you watch it twice. The first time it will feel a little confusing & crowed, but on a second watching it blossoms like a flower.
The sound track is excessively good, fitting the context & mood of each moment with a disturbing subtlety. The camera work is rich & absorbing almost to the point of distraction. The Storey is compelling, leaving you content with a feeling that friends & lovers are alll that count. The acting is good to excellent although after repeated watching there are smalll gaps.
This film is an "apprentices piece" taking a story & carving, beautifully intricate pictures & sounds around it, with each viewing this film gives over a little more.
Not So Bad - By: J. Ball, 26 Apr 2003 
The most annoying feature about thid DVD is the fact it is advertised as solely a Kylie film. Although a good performance she is by far the main character. However, i thought it was a good film. Australian films tend to be slightly more quirky than the mainstream hollywood films (Precilla Queen of the Desert), this film offers a different perspective on the world of clubbing etc. However, it lacks the character depth (whether intentional or not) that it needs. Kylie's character could have been developed alot more, as could "len" & "DJ Lush Puppy" instead we are rushed to the end. Some good acting shouldn't go unrecognised.a good effort....
very disappointing - By: A. W. Rosiak, 25 Oct 2002 
On its release in oz, i gather this film was well recieved as an alternative look at the clubbing underworld....... Here in the UK it has been promoted solely as Kylie's film, which it isnt... She is rarely on screen, & although her performance is her best so far on film (not much to live up to with cut, biodome & streetfighter as ur previous releases!) its not worth getting just for her.
I tried to figure out just what i didnt like about this film & the list was endless.......v.poor final editing wrecks the whole film, generallly poor acting, no depth of characters & v.annoying, repetitive music.
Kylie obviously has some acting ability in her, i only hope she chooses more wisely in future........
