The Last Showgirl
| The Last Showgirl | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Gia Coppola |
| Screenplay by | Kate Gersten |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Autumn Durald Arkapaw |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Andrew Wyatt |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Last Showgirl is a 2024 American drama film directed by Gia Coppola and written by Kate Gersten. It stars Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka and Billie Lourd.
It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024.
Premise
[edit]For over thirty years, Shelley (Pamela Anderson) has been a Las Vegas showgirl, the feather and crystal–adorned centrepiece of Sin City’s last remaining traditional floor show. The stage and the women she shares it with are her loving, bickering, sequin-clad family. When the stage manager Eddie (Dave Bautista) announces the show will close permanently in two weeks, Shelley and her co-workers must make decisions for their future. But the future looks different when you are 50 rather than 20, and your sole job skill is dancing.
Emotionally floundering, Shelley tries to reconnect with a daughter she hardly knows, which proves just as difficult as losing the only job she has ever had. Bolstered by her best friend Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis), a brash cocktail waitress who laughs a little too loud and too often, Shelley must find her place in a world that she shut the (stage) door on years before.
Cast
[edit]- Pamela Anderson as Shelley
- Jamie Lee Curtis as Annette, a waitress and former showgirl
- Dave Bautista as Eddie, producer of the revue
- Brenda Song as Marianne, a showgirl
- Kiernan Shipka as Jodie, a showgirl
- Billie Lourd as Hannah, Shelley's daughter
- Jason Schwartzman as a director who rejects Shelley's audition
Production
[edit]In February 2024, as principal photography had wrapped, it was announced that a drama film titled The Last Showgirl was being directed by Gia Coppola and written by Kate Gersten. Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka and Billie Lourd rounded out the main cast.[1] It was shot over the course of 18 days.[2] In May 2024, unveiling the first look for the film, Goodfellas and Utopia, the latter of which was co-founded by Coppola's cousin once removed Robert Schwartzman, announced that they would be teaming up to handle international sales on the film, which had already generated much interest among distributors, at the Marché du Film.[3]
The script was adapted from the unproduced play Body of Work (developed at Roundabout Theatre) Gersten had been inspired to write in conjunction with her visits to the Jubilee! show before it closed.[4][5][6]
Release
[edit]It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024.[7][8] It also made it to the main competition slate of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival.[9]
Reception
[edit]The film holds an 90% "Fresh" score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 31 reviews with an average rating of 7.4/10.[10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[11]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Sebastián International Film Festival | 28 September 2024 | Golden Seashell | The Last Showgirl | Pending | [12] |
References
[edit]- ^ Kroll, Justin (February 1, 2024). "Pamela Anderson, Kiernan Shipka, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song And Billie Lourd To Star In 'The Last Showgirl' From Gia Coppola". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "'The Last Showgirl' Review: Pamela Anderson Is A Revelation In Gia Coppola's Smart Story Of A Vegas Veteran As The Spotlight Fades – Toronto Film Festival". Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie; Wiseman, Andreas (May 2, 2024). "Goodfellas & Utopia Unveil First Image Of Pamela Anderson In Gia Coppola's 'The Last Showgirl' As They Team To Co-Sell – Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Coppola, Gia; Anderson, Pamela; Gersten, Kate; Shipka, Kiernan; Song, Brenda (September 7, 2024). "Pamela Anderson's Role Of A Lifetime In 'The Last Showgirl'" (Interview). Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024 – via Youtube.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (August 6, 2024). "CAA Signs 'The Last Showgirl' Scribe Kate Gersten". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024.
- ^ "Meet Our Artists". Roundabout Theatre Company.
- ^ "The Last Showgirl". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Donnelly, Matt (July 22, 2024). "TIFF Lineup: Pam Anderson's 'Last Showgirl,' Ben and J. Lo Project 'Unstoppable,' Papal Thriller 'Conclave' and More". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Tabbara, Mona (July 30, 2024). "San Sebastian adds Edward Berger, Mike Leigh titles to competition line-up". ScreenDaily.
- ^ "The Last Showgirl". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "The Last Showgirl". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Nick. "San Sebastián Announces Their Competition Slate!". The Film Experience. Retrieved August 21, 2024.