Recognition in Hollywood is tough to achieve. Various talented individuals are rarely shown appreciation for their contribution to the film business and popular culture. Pamela Anderson is such an actress that has been a prominent figure for decades and has consistently been penalised.
Anderson has been around for a long time. Once the blonde bombshell from Baywatch, she has been ridiculed continuously throughout her career. Her reputation has been dragged by the media, her acting ability mocked by many, and Hollywood had all but forgotten about her. But, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she is back in one of the best performances by an actress in the last year.
The Last Showgirl is the latest film from Gia Coppola (yes, that Coppola family) that stars Anderson in the lead role, surrounded by a starry ensemble cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis and Dave Bautista. We follow Shelley (Pamela Anderson), a glamorous showgirl who has been in a Las Vegas show called the ‘Razzle Dazzle’ for the past 30 years. One day, news breaks that the show will close down imminently, leaving Shelley having to think about her future.
Shelly is a role that only Anderson could play. She knows this character’s inner turmoil and how it feels to be ripped away from an industry that you’ve given your life to. The desperation that exudes from Anderson’s performance as her character’s life is being completely upended feels highly personal. This is on display when Shelly is auditioning for a part in a new Vegas show. She lies about her age, afraid that this may jeopardise her chances of getting hired. There is this look of pure fear in Anderson’s eyes during this scene that really sells the entire character, she needs a role in order to survive. It’s a brilliant scene and acted masterfully by Anderson.
Coppola does a fine job directing the film, but it’s very evident that she’s still got a long way to go. A lot of The Last Showgirl is very much style over substance, with many of the scenes shown in a hazy blur, a potential visual cue of how the film The Last Showgirl, is an old relic, like its protagonist. It is an interesting and unique visual layer to the film, but it feels as if it’s a gimmick being used to distract from little narrative progression in many parts of the film.
The rest of the cast is doing good work, with a barely recognisable Jamie Lee Curtis stealing the show in a handful of scenes. Bautista is surprisingly good in a nuanced turn playing the owner of the Razzle Dazzle and has a complicated relationship with Shelly. It’s a welcomed change of pace from him and promotes the idea that he may be a good dramatic actor after all. Everyone else, especially Billie Lourd who plays Anderson’s daughter in the film, are saddled with underwritten characters.
The Last Showgirl is a mixed bag. Anderson is striking in the lead role, playing to her strengths and shining like never before. The rest of the film struggles to keep up with her, with an underdeveloped story, one-dimensional supporting characters, and a lack of clear overall vision.
The Lats Showgirl releases in UK & Irish cinemas February 28th 2025