The Last Showgirl is a drama about a relic from a bygone era coming to an end and a surprising showcase for one of the most famous celebrities of the 90s. Pamela Anderson stars as the titular character, a dancer who must deal with her life choices when the Vegas show she has been featured in for over thirty years, an old-school cabaret, is announced as closing forever. It is a sad, touching, character study focusing on a woman who refuses to apologize for following her passion, despite it costing her everything and leaving her with nothing. Loving what you do is more important to her than being there for who you love.
The Last Showgirl (81 minutes, without the end credits) is simply shot, light on plot and cares more about people than melodrama. It is a good movie, that never forces its point-of-view on the audience, with a couple of great performances.
Shelly has been a part of Le Razzle Dazzle for decades. She is extremely proud of the show, and her work, considering it a classy tribute to France and the history of the Vegas Strip. When she learns it is done for good, she is distraught. She sacrificed her personal life, including her relationship with her daughter, for her little piece of fame under an increasingly small spotlight. Now she must figure out what her life is without it.
Director Gia Coppola and writer Kate Gersten do an interesting thing here. Even though the show is the centerpiece of Shelly’s existence, the viewer never really sees it. We see the showgirls preparing backstage and talking to their producer, Eddie, but not the production that Shelly insists is so important that it was worth all of her energy. This is probably wise. Since it is an old, failing show, it is unlikely that it would live up to her opinion of it. None of the other girls share her affection for it. It would have been genuinely devastating to see Shelly dancing in front of a tiny, bored, crowd. This isn’t about the show; it is about the meaning it had for her that she is still clinging to, even though time has clearly passed it, and maybe her, by.
Pamela Anderson is quite simply fantastic in the role. She has been getting a lot of praise and it is well deserved. This is a woman who has given everything in her to something that is now disappearing. Nothing can replace it and what she has given up cannot be reclaimed. Anderson exhibits so much vulnerability as Shelly declares her love for Le Razzle Dazzle over and over again. If the show didn’t matter, then all these years have been for naught. She just can’t accept that.
The way she responds to the news, and everyone else’s reaction to it, is fascinating. She still has so much to give. It can’t be over. Considering how Anderson was basically treated as a prop, barely an actress, throughout her career, this performance is a revelation. She takes on a difficult role and gives it the same level of devotion that Shelly gives her show. She is phenomenal.
Dave Bautista is nearly as good as Eddie. There is a tenderness here that he hasn’t really had the chance to show before. He also cares about the show, especially the women who perform in it, yet he understands the reality of the situation. Though it’s undeniably sad, that time is gone and you have to move on. He is very patient with Shelly, he may even love her. He feels worse for her than he does for himself. Bautista continues to display his impressive range as an actor, taking on a complex role and making it his own.
The Last Showgirl is a lovely story that does not judge its protagonist for her mistakes. It is a slice-of-life drama that doesn’t look down on Shelly for chasing her dreams, even if that may now feel like wasted time. This is definitely going to go down as a stunning reinvention for Pamela Anderson, rightfully so. Thankfully, the movie around her is quite good in its own right.
4 out of 5
Cast:
Pamela Anderson as Shelly
Dave Bautista as Eddie
Kiernan Shipka as Jodie
Brenda Song as Mary-Anne
Jamie Lee Curtis as Annette
Billie Lourd as Hannah
Directed by Gia Coppola
Written by Kate Gersten
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