Cinema Scholars reviews Gia Coppola’s new drama The Last Showgirl. The film stars Pamela Anderson and Dave Bautista with support from Jamie Lee Curtis, Kiernan Shipka, and Billie Lourd. Roadside Attractions is releasing The Last Showgirl in theaters nationwide on January 10, 2025.
Introduction
Most people lucky enough to reach middle age have experienced it. Something you truly love has come and gone. Whether it’s a relationship, a career, a fashion trend, or a social scene, people of a certain age gain this inevitable unwanted perspective on life. We’ve seen some of our best days gone by. That’s not to say there aren’t more good times to come. But that wistful feeling over a bygone era only comes to those who have lived through a few.
In Gia Coppola’s stunning new film The Last Showgirl, the director makes the plight of a veteran Las Vegas performer a poignant microcosm for anyone who has ridden the wave of success until it eventually runs its bittersweet course.
Synopsis
Shelly (Pamela Anderson) is a sort of matriarch among a statuesque troop of Sin City showgirls. As the women ready themselves backstage, a unique camaraderie is immediately apparent. For some, the gig is a means to an end, i.e. a spot in a hotter, newer production. Yet others view the beloved showgirl spectacular as tantalizing performance art and an essential cultural touchstone.
Like any job, mavens take rookies under their wings, professing stories about the days of old while keeping up with the current pace. In Shelly’s case that new pace involves a modern lewdness she simply cannot abide. To get hired these days, the new guard must bring a level of raunchiness to dance numbers that sharply contrasts the topless dazzle-with-dignity of the peak showgirl era.
Watching her predecessors working casino floors as (gasp) cocktail waitresses into their golden years is another reminder that Shelly’s days in the spotlight won’t last forever. When news that her legendary show is getting axed collides with a surprise reunion with her estranged daughter, an equally heartbreaking and empowering meditation on middle age unfolds.
Discussion
The Last Showgirl is a fascinating snapshot of a singular life story that is oddly relatable nevertheless. The story, penned by screenwriter Kate Gersten, is not just a meditation on aging, it’s more about how the world around us changes, usually when we least expect it. When you’ve done the same thing for 30 years and suddenly age out of an industry you helped foster. Loving what you do and living your dreams, even at the extreme sacrifice of a personal life. Only to see it all suddenly disappear.
These themes and more permeate The Last Showgirl, creating a wholly original and compelling emotional ride.
Performances
At the helm of that ride, Pamela Anderson is raw magic as she transforms into the spiraling protagonist. Making news lately by eschewing her typical heavy makeup and hair for her natural beauty, Anderson channels that same no-nonsense energy into one incredible performance. She’s all the things you look for in an award-winning role. She’s raw and captivating. Nuanced and authentic. Her sweet and somewhat nervous portrayal beautifully captures Shelly’s imperfections, bad decisions and all. Anderson’s take on the character makes her sympathetic, even when you don’t agree with some of the decisions she makes.
While Anderson never left the pop-culture ether, her recent projects like Hulu’s “Pam and Tommy” series have made her accessible to a whole new generation of admirers. If The Last Showgirl heralds the second coming of Pamela Anderson, there are a lot of fans who are here for it.
Dave Bautista’s Dramatic Turn
In a career-changing supporting role, Dave Bautista’s turn as veteran Vegas stage manager Eddie is just so good. Anyone who questions the wrestler-turned-actor’s indie drama prowess needs look no further. Contemplative and subdued, Bautista’s disappearance into the character isn’t just because of the long gray wig he dons.
Furthermore, his even-keeled portrayal validates Shelly’s connection to days gone by while also keeping her grounded in real time. Bautista understands the assignment perfectly.
Supporting Cast
Jamie Lee Curtis pops up in a brief but powerful (and funny) sub-narrative about a past-her-prime showgirl. While Curtis brings her irresistible brand of Everywoman empowerment to Shelly’s sidekick, her character also helps illustrate the sometimes harsh reality of aging in the entertainment industry.
Repping the new guard of the film, It-Girl Kiernan Shipka kills it with yet another captivating outing. As Shelly’s protege Jodie, Shipka shines throughout another compelling sub-narrative of the story. While she gets to show off some sexy sass early on, her later heartbreaking turn cements her as one of the more versatile young actresses in the industry today.
In smaller but significant ensemble roles, Billie Lourd and Brenda Song round out the younger contingent of the story. Lourd handles reverse tough love as Shelly’s distant daughter with convincing complexity. And Song’s deadpan ambition makes her character’s unlikely loyalty to Shelly hit you in the feels.
Conclusion
The Last Showgirl captures the classic sexiness of the business with little to no actual nudity. The film reminisces about a time when there was still a definite distinction between dancers and strippers. When you got dinner, a big show, and a little bit of boob. Comparisons to a general decline in couth and sophistication in contemporary Vegas make showgirls of yore seem downright demure and mindful.
Rather than the typical Vegas glitz and glitter, Coppola aims her lens almost entirely at the behind-the-scenes of the entertainment epicenter. From backstage drama to the everyday humdrum, Coppola embraces the unglamorous side of real Sin City life. This, along with ovation-worthy performances, terrific story-building, and universal themes of loss is what makes The Last Showgirl succeed in every way.
Roadside Attractions is releasing The Last Showgirl in theaters nationwide on January 10, 2025.
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