The Last Showgirl

Pamela Anderson shines in "The Last Showgirl". Coppola knew why to cast her in the lead role... She was fantastic here. Same as Jamie Lee Curtis, top notch performances from both. A very interesting and real story about women growing old and feeling ostracized in the world that they know. Brilliant cinematography and score as well. This is a must watch.

Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl is a powerful meditation on legacy, performance, and the passage of time, anchored by an astonishing turn from Pamela Anderson. It explores the intoxicating pull of the spotlight—the way it can both elevate and expose, transform and trap. The film’s themes are deeply poignant, reflecting on how the stage can be both a pedestal and a cage, and what happens when the curtain finally falls.Anderson is extraordinary here, delivering a raw, vulnerable performance that lingers long after the final scene. She brings palpable energy to every moment, effortlessly balancing the glamour of a showgirl with the struggles of a mother. Her character resists being seen as a "work mom" by younger dancers, yearning instead to be their peer—a poignant reflection of her battle against time and perception. The depth she brings makes her heartbreak all the more affecting.While she is undoubtedly the film’s beating heart, her supporting cast is equally commendable. Dave Bautista is seriously one of the most interesting actors working today and I cannot wait to see his career continue to flourish and branch out. Beyond Anderson and Bautista, a supporting cast of Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Schwartzman etc make this quite the treat of an ensemble.I can see why people might hate JLC's performance but it really worked for me and resonated with my audience. She's obviously humorous and over the top but I think she captures a very real type of American woman. "I'm thinking of starting an IRA" while chugging a margarita is just *chef's **** film’s closing moments—a final shower of applause before the spotlight dims forever—left me reflecting on what comes next when one’s career, once an all-consuming identity, is no more. The Last Showgirl is not just a film about performance; it is a film about reckoning—with the past, with sacrifice, and with a future that is uncertain and **** there’s one flaw, it’s that the film could have benefited from a longer runtime. At just 85 minutes, there’s so much more to explore, and I found myself wanting just a little more time with these characters. And while the Oscars often miss the mark, Miley Cyrus snub of the century for not making the shortlist for Best Original Song.Still, The Last Showgirl stands as Gia Coppola’s finest work to date—an intimate, evocative, and deeply affecting portrayal of womanhood and the price of the spotlight. It’s a film that lingers, much like the final applause before the house lights come up.