Las Vegas is synonymous with the showgirl. These sequin and rhinestone-clad dancers have been entertaining people since the inception of the strip. The Last Showgirl is a deep dive into the changing face of Nevada, as it tries to reinvent itself in a rapidly evolving world of entertainment. In tackling this with a character study, it could well be the most overlooked movie of the last few years.
The Plot of the Last Showgirl
Pamela Anderson has gone from strength to strength as an actress, and her portrayal of the main character, Shelly Gardner, is nothing short of spectacular. In this movie, she plays an ageing showgirl who finds the theatre show she performs in is about to close after three decades. Acting as a mother figure to the people she works with, she soon finds that with little in the way of a pension and her surrogate family looking elsewhere for work, she has an uncertain and lonely future ahead.
As the final performance approaches, Gardner’s world starts to unfold. She begins to realise she has sacrificed a lot of time in her job when she should have been raising her biological daughter. Becoming increasingly estranged from family and friends, she is reminded of what could become of her when she finds a friend living in her car.
The Changing Face of Las Vegas
The movie is about not just Gardner’s personal struggles, but the changing face of Las Vegas itself, where visitor numbers have been falling drastically. In May, 8.7% fewer visitors came through the airport compared to the same time a year before. There have been several reasons given for this.
Most obvious, but most untrue, is the possibility of people enjoying casinos online. There are now websites that provide bet casino facilities around the globe, even in places where casinos have traditionally been hard to access. They allow people not only to place sports wagers, but also to play casino games like roulette and online slots. Modern methods, such as live casino, can also be enjoyed online.
Whilst Vegas gambling revenue is still up, increasing 3.9% on the strip alone year on year, along with its online gambling revenue, many believe that high prices are the real reason people are staying away. There are fees at every turn, from parking to service charges on rooms. One media outlet reported that it is quite normal to pay $40 for two coffees and two croissants, which has affected the popularity of Vegas.
Critical Reception to the Last Showgirl
The general reception for The Last Showgirl was positive, with a score of 6.9/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. Much of the film was carried by Anderson herself, who cast off the blonde bombshell trope of her early career and delivered a touching and dramatic performance. She gained a nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
If you want a personal, touching movie, then The Last Showgirl is well worth your time. Though rooted in Vegas, it showcases a theme that everyone encounters at some point: Personal change against the backdrop of a world shifting beneath our feet.
