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'The Last Showgirl' starring Pamela Anderson: A Poignant American Portrait
Rendy Reviews ^

Posted on 02/04/2025 6:56:47 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege

Within the heart of the Las Vegas strip, a showgirl named Shelly (Pamela Anderson) loves nothing more than performing at her casino show, The Razzle Dazzle. She's seen dancers come and go throughout the show's 37-year run but has been there from day one...As her time in the spotlight nears its end, Shelly must deal with her future while still holding on to make every show she performs count.

Gia Coppola raises the curtains on the glitz and glam you see in film and illustrates Vegas for what it's become in recent times: a desolate ghost town. The Last Showgirl, shot on location, spotlights the deteriorating state of Las Vegas, as evidenced by every point-of-view shot depicting characters wandering through the city's streets or traversing through a casino's vacant halls...

Shelly is a character that can only be authentically portrayed by an actress with a distinct path, such as Pamela Anderson's. Similar to Demi Moore in The Substance, The Last Showgirl is another case of casting a ‘90s sex symbol that the system pushed aside acting in a project that calls it out for its ageist norms. Much like Moore, this is a role we have never seen her in before, and she is razzle-dazzling throughout.

The Last Showgirl is Anderson's first dramatic role, and she embodies this character so naturally, that it’s infuriating that it took this long for her to get this star-shining moment. Shelly is like the embodiment of the Bowling For Soup song “1985”: she expresses nostalgia for her longtime showgirl experience, obsessed with her past ventures while refusing to accept the changed times. Her human flaws, blinded ambitions, and determination make you root for her, despite some of her most frustratingly headstrong actions...

(Excerpt) Read more at rendyreviews.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: pamelaanderson
This was one of the few buzzy films I've seen this year and my favorite!
1 posted on 02/04/2025 6:56:47 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

And they didn’t even nominate her. But they nominated a DUDE. Hollywood is dying.


2 posted on 02/04/2025 7:12:22 PM PST by montag813
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

She was very beautiful when she was first discovered.


3 posted on 02/04/2025 7:16:13 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
Similar to Demi Moore in The Substance, The Last Showgirl is another case of casting a ‘90s sex symbol that the system pushed aside acting in a project that calls it out for its ageist norms.

Cry me a river. They pushed out Farrah Fawcett-Majors and Goldie Hawn etc. It isn't "ageism", it is looking right for the part. Some women do fine later on due to talent (Katherine Hepburn), finding a niche(Angela Lansbury) , or sheer toughness (Betty White).
4 posted on 02/04/2025 7:24:52 PM PST by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: montag813
If I may

And they didn’t even nominate her. But they nominated a DUDE. Hollywood is dying dead.

5 posted on 02/04/2025 7:25:11 PM PST by llevrok (Keep buggering on!)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
Gia Coppola raises the curtains on the glitz and glam you see in film and illustrates Vegas for what it's become in recent times: a desolate ghost town....

Huh? My last trip to Vegas in 2021 I had a great time. Granted I never left the Mandaaly Bay complex and I also won $16K, but it didn't strike me as a desolate ghost town.

6 posted on 02/04/2025 7:28:45 PM PST by Rummyfan ( In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.)
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To: montag813
And they didn’t even nominate her. But they nominated a DUDE.

Incredible right?!

7 posted on 02/04/2025 7:29:49 PM PST by Rummyfan ( In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.)
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To: Rummyfan
Gia Coppola....

Geez, another Coppola. How many are there?!

8 posted on 02/04/2025 7:31:19 PM PST by Rummyfan ( In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.)
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To: Dr. Sivana
Look at Maggie Smith.

She had an accomplished stage and film career throughout the 1950s to the 1980s.

When Smith was 53 she co-starred in thee Sister Act franchise beginning in 1992.

When Smith was 62 to 72, she co-starred in the Harry Potter franchise (2001-2011).

When Smith was 71 to 76, she co-starred in the Downton Abbey series (2010-2015). She also co-starred in the two movies that followed when she was 80 and 83 (2019, 2022).

-PJ

9 posted on 02/04/2025 7:44:13 PM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: CondoleezzaProtege; Jamestown1630; Dr. Sivana
Why can't a U.S. actress play a role like this? Why do we have give all our roles to foreigners like Pamela Anderson?

There isn't a single actress in the U.S. who can do the job?

10 posted on 02/04/2025 8:35:38 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Pamela Anderson has been a U.S. citizen for at least twenty years.


11 posted on 02/04/2025 8:41:44 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630
She's still Canadian. Do we really need H1-B actresses moving here taking all the jobs?

And by the way, there are plenty of British actors who play U.S. Americans on TV and movies, but it rarely happens the other way.

For example, House, Several actors on Prodigal Son, Billions, several on Homeland, several on Walking Dead, Yellowstone, and many others. Even Idris Elba and Kate Winslet have played someone from the U.S.

Gwyneth Paltrow played a Brit in two movies, and Renee Zellweger in one movie.

12 posted on 02/04/2025 8:54:04 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

I don’t think you understand what an H1-B visa is, if you think Anderson was one.

She was discovered on a jumbotron at a sporting event. She was beautiful. A Canadian company hired her as a model, then Playboy featured her, and things took off from there.

I’m sure she didn’t take a job away from any other beautiful American girl with nice boobs.


13 posted on 02/04/2025 9:03:06 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
Rules, people.

PamAndersonHomeImpBarbWire
PamAndersonBayWatch
PamAndersonLastShowgirl PamAnderson2025

14 posted on 02/04/2025 9:18:09 PM PST by MikelTackNailer (Listen to me now, think about it later and cry about it some other day.)
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To: montag813

It’s been decades since I watched the Oscars or Grammys. 30 odd years since I took any cues on what I watched or listened to based on those award shows.


15 posted on 02/05/2025 1:24:05 AM PST by Cronos
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