Film Review - The Last Showgirl
Images courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
The Last Showgirl is a reflection on how the end is just the beginning, and the whimsy of girlhood can persevere into womanhood, as Pamela Anderson razzle dazzles her way into the audience’s hearts in a role like we’ve never seen before.
As the third feature film from director Gia Coppola (Mainstream, Palo Alto), The Last Showgirl, depicts a deteriorating casino performance scene, with the long-running Le Razzle Dazzle show coming to a bittersweet end, forcing its dancers to seek other employment. This wouldn’t be a problem if the whole cast were made of fresh-faced young adults and 20-somethings like Jodie (Kiernan Shipka) and Mary-Anne (Brenda Song). Dancers like Shelly (Pamela Anderson) have known nothing but dancing for their entire adult lives and need to face an industry that sweeps aging stars under the rug. Shelly continues to chase the spotlight long after it faded and regales her co-workers with tales from the good old days, expressing her love for the industry and crying out for the Parisian haze that she still lives in on the Vegas strip. The same could be said for Shelly’s closest friend, Anette (Jamie Lee Curtis), a woman around the same age who has continued her performance career as a cocktail waitress in the same casino. We see management try to oust Anette for younger waitresses, and this begs the question of how old is too old to be working in such a job.
In casting for the film, Coppola stated that she “couldn’t take no for an answer”, and that she had to have Anderson in the role of Shelly, and it isn’t hard to see why this is the case. Anderson shared that her own experience informed her portrayal of Shelly, sharing with GMA that “there’s lots that [she] identified with”, even down to her upbringing. Hollywood seems to be slowly starting to embrace the older woman as it always has the older man, with age not diminishing an actor's ability to perform. The Substance, for instance, challenges the industry's ideal beauty standards, and the grotesque body horror film landed Demi Moore her first Oscar nomination- who’s to say that Anderson couldn’t have warranted the same for her performance in The Last Showgirl? Billie Lourd’s performance as Shelly’s daughter, Hannah, shares another side of Shelly’s character. Shelly chose the stage over raising her daughter, leaving Hannah to feel neglected for most of her life. We find out that Shelly was doing all that she could to make ends meet and provide for her daughter, even if it meant multiple shows a day. Hannah’s character is quite central to the film, aiding in the exploration of the potentially complex dynamics in mother-daughter relationships. Lourd’s performance has been praised for its authenticity, as it captures the complexities of a woman grappling with her identity and the expectations placed upon her by society, resonating with critics and audiences alike.
Coppola’s use of the female gaze is intoxicating and refreshing, to say the least, allowing the audience to view the showgirls as working women rather than the sex symbols that they’re meant to be seen as on stage. We’re allowed to experience a more intimate side of the showgirl experience by peeping behind the literal curtain - quick costume changes, ripped set pieces and the lives that the showgirls lead outside of the casino. While the camera captures nudity and scanty clothing, the desire isn’t to objectify or sexualise, offering little temptation to a male audience, a welcome departure from the way in which showgirls are usually showcased in media. In some ways, it is as much a celebration of womanhood and one’s aging beauty as it is of a longstanding showgirl career. It should also be noted that a showgirl advisor was credited for the film, demonstrating the effort for a sense of authenticity to be brought to the piece, ensuring that the showgirls are an accurate depiction of those who perform in real life.
An insight into the future of adult entertainment through a feminine lens, and an exploration into what happens to us once our prime has seemingly passed us by. Go see it in cinemas now before time passes you by.
The Last Showgirl is screening in cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.