The Last Showgirl

Screened at Festival Theaters, Palm Springs, California.

My history with Pamela Anderson is quite limited, even though my knowledge of her, and her place in pop culture history, is solid. I've still never seen even a minute of Baywatch and I'm rather proud of that, as good as a time as it might be. I did like Howard Stern's spoof of it though - the short-lived but fun 2000 Fox series Son of the Beach. Speaking of Howard Stern, I think that's where I got most acquainted with her, and is likely what led me to think when this film was announced, "finally." What I saw, while still living her public image during visits to the show, was a more unfiltered version. I didn't get to see or get to know a caricature of Pamela Anderson, but instead saw a person as normal as the next, with dreams and ambitions like any other. I just always found her to be endearing, genuine and sincere, so with this film, I was really hoping to see what I thought I was seeing in her. And that's exactly what we got. Most have heard of the Coppola family who are basically a cinematic dynasty at this point. We have Francis Ford of course, then one of my favorites Sofia, her brother Roman, and then there is Gia. Her first film was a personal favorite, 2013's Palo Alto, but her follow-up Mainstream wasn't so great. However, I'm happy to say she lived up to and beyond the promise displayed in Palo Alto with The Last Showgirl, buoyed by a trifecta that brilliantly pulls this thing together with Gia, Pamela, and her co-star, Jamie Lee Curtis. Recognition must also go to Dave Bautista, as Pamela's boss and potential love interest. Apparently he was a wrestler in the past, but man, he was perfect and a solid choice here. His tough but sweet empathy was a great balance in the story.

This is not an amazing film by any means, it is 100% rough around the edges. Even with Ms Anderson's performance, with her wide-eyed expressions and JLC's hair and makeup which had me fascinated throughout, being two things that stood out to me as something people may point to. Probably just me, but I thought it added to the film's charm, especially with its gaudy Las Vegas setting.

What I can say most pointedly is I feel this film connects with people - in this era of our time - where everyone is just trying to play by the rules, for themselves, for their families, their friends, and still getting fucked over. Doing your ultimate best in execution and in the decisions along the way that led you there, only to have the rug pulled out from under you at the least opportune time (as if there is ever a solid reason for a GOOD time). That sentiment, with the raw but beautifully charming performance from Ms Anderson, I am not ashamed to say at the end of this film, I sat in the theater, by myself (I saw this much later than I wanted to), and had a good healthy cry. I felt her sadness, her pride, her anguish, her kindness, her predicament - all of it, all at once. And frankly I'm not sure what else one would want from a performance. I just wanted to give her a hug and say "you're not alone."

This film, its direction, its performances, its screenplay, are beautifully imperfect. I can't recommend it enough, and at it's short running time, they did this exactly right. And I just want to add the strongest kudos to Ms Anderson. Her story of how she got to this role, with tremendous help and perseverance from her son for people in Hollywood to take her seriously as a leading lady, is incredibly touching in my view and added to the viewing experience. And doing all this while showing the world who the REAL Pamela Anderson is, and has been all these decades, just added so much to the experience. I never liked the disrespect she seemed to garner over the years, of course much of it sexist beyond words, but it is a pure joy to see her now, in full control of her own destiny, the way she wants to tell it.