The Last Showgirl
Directed by Gia Coppola
Written by Kate Gersten
Starring Pamela Anderson, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Dave Bautista and Jamie Lee Curtis
Runtime: 1 hour and 29 minutes
Rated R
Now playing in theater

by Rosalie Kicks, Editor in Chief and Old Sport

“If you’re passionate about it, it’s worth it.”

For sixteen and a half years I was locked in the confines of a cubicle serving a corporate overlord in the form of Human Resources (HR). As someone who identifies as a creative being, this occupation was much like what I would believe a prison sentence (at least of the mind) would feel like. I often felt suffocated, defeated, hopeless, and uncomfortable. There were several occasions in which the fire inside of me was almost snuffed out due to severe spells of depression. I’d flood my body with alcohol to cope, hoping to drown out the never-ending voices in my head telling me to throw in the towel, not only of my existence but my actual passions. The pie in the sky dreams that give the flicker to the flame. Fortunately, I found help. I also have a partner that would remind me there was indeed a reason to keep getting back up There was a light at the end of this tunnel and nothing in life is permanent. Instead, time is ever evolving and one always has the capacity to change. Now that I have made it out and onto the other side, I can’t help but wonder if one is even alive without their dreams?

Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl is a beautiful portrait of a woman that is forced to face her past decisions when the Vegas act she is part of announces it will close down after thirty eight years. In the style of cinéma vérité the cinematographer, Autumn Durald Arkapaw places the viewer like a fly on the wall, giving an unfiltered view of Shelly’s (Pamela Anderson) life. Shots are shaky, unfocused, and there is a feeling of improvisation. Given the messiness of Shelly’s existence and situation, this technique is extremely effective and fits perfectly with the the tale that is being conveyed.

Through the course of the swift runtime it is learned that every choice and/or decision that Shelly has made has been in the name of her ambitions. She refuses to settle. For her, it is not just the goal of being on the stage or in the spotlight, but more about feeling seen. Much like the films she adores, she wants to leave her mark on this world. She has chased after this goal, no matter the cost or damage that it has done to others. Seeing someone so invested in their dreams and their willingness to give everything they have in pursuit of them hit me hard. Even months after seeing the film, I still find myself getting emotional. I’ll admit this could be due to a right time, right place situation. The year 2024 ended up being a rather transformative year for me personally due to saying goodbye to the HR role I mentioned above and now being able to devote myself fully to my film and writing aspirations.

I would be doing a disservice if I did not mention the absolutely astounding performances that are on display within The Last Showgirl. From from top to bottom, everyone is aces. Despite only having a minor role, Dave Bautista still manages to shine as the showrunner of the Vegas act. While Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka as Shelly’s coworkers both turn in tremendous performances. I read that, prior to working on this film, Pamela had not starred in a movie in close to a decade. Initially her agent had thrown out the script, but it was her son that inevitably got it in Pamela’s hands and encouraged her to take the role. Pamela would later fire her agent (rightfully so). With Pamela attached, Jamie Lee Curtis soon joined the cast after learning of Anderson starring. Curtis is incredible as the tormented, washed up best friend working the Vegas strip as a cocktail waitress. I don’t often have stakes in the Oscars, but I really hope they notice Jamie for her efforts as she truly deserves to be recognized for this portrayal. She blows her winning performance from Everything Everywhere All at Once out of the water.

Shelly may not have always chose the right path when faced with a fork in the road, but I feel her choices were made in fear of the alternative: regret. She realized that it would be a heck of a lot better to face cleaning up a mistake than living without taking the chance. This of course causes much friction between her and her daughter, Hannah (Billie Lourd), who has trouble understanding how her mother could throw away spending time with her during formative years for a “titty” show. A scene that sits with me between the mother and daughter is when Hannah says, “Being an artist is hard.” to which Shelly simply responds saying that this idea is stupid. She goes on to explain that doing a job you don’t love… that’s hard. It was this moment that I fell in love with Kate Gersten’s script. When I caught this film at Toronto International Film Festival, I felt a bit of fatigue setting in from the various pictures I watched that did not earn their runtime. Many films would have benefited from a snip and most likely played more effectively. The Last Showgirl does not have this problem. It is a lean story that manages to transport you to Shelly’s world to experience a story of a woman that we rarely get to see. A woman that wants more out of life than what society expects of her.

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