Pamela Anderson gives audiences the ol’ razzle dazzle in Gia Coppola’s poignant look at the final days of a bygone Vegas era. The Last Showgirl is an intimate character piece that indulges in its own artsiness a bit often for its own good.
If you’ve been to Vegas recently, you’ll know how easy it is to spot remnants of the city’s past. It’s a tourist destination that’s constantly changing to adapt to the times, which means “out with the old, in with the new”. The movie follows one of the last remaining showgirl acts on the Vegas strip, and a dancer well into her 50’s facing the potential end of her career.
It’s a small, contemplative character study that runs a lean 85 minutes. Shelley (Anderson) has been a part of this show for the better part of 30 years, and now must come to terms with what the next chapter of her life might look like. It’s heartbreaking to watch, as the rug is pulled from beneath her. Getting into the business when she was young and beautiful, with dreams of a big, bedazzled life of fame - now lost in a city that doesn’t seem to want her.
Sadly, Coppola’s film sways back and forth from meandering to heavy handed, between occasional moments of poignancy. There are attempts to build relationships between various characters, but none of them are explored beyond a thin surface level. The soft, radial focus gives everything a sort of dreamlike look, but it’s so intense at times you’ll be rubbing your eyes wondering if you’re going blind. Despite being such a short movie, there’s also an excessive amount of Shelley and others aimlessly waltzing (and sometimes dancing) around the city, reminiscing about days gone.
Without a doubt, this is the performance of Anderson’s career, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s a great performance. She demonstrates a lot more range than I thought she was capable of, playing the bubbly showgirl with an almost unbreakable spirit quite well. It’s an extremely uneven performance, though. Sometimes I found myself impressed, and other times wincing at her corny delivery. The supporting players (including a heavily bronzed Jamie Lee Curtis) have moments, but nobody really wowed me with their acting.
The Last Showgirl squanders much of its brief runtime with lingering shots of nothingness, but there’s still a touching story to be found within. Pam Anderson shines in her bedazzled costume, even if her performance can’t consistently match that same kind of brightness.
2.5/5
Review by: Benjamin Garrrett