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The Last Showgirl — A Glittering Farewell to Vegas Dreams
At the close of each year, I’m invited along with Academy royalty to preview some of the best films of the year. This week I was invited to a special engagement of The Last Showgirl. What a film. A true art film. My review won’t do it justice. It’s a picture that doesn’t just tell a story; it pushes the audience into the sphere of glitz, grit, and faded dreams that is the quintessential definition of Las Vegas.
Before we get to our beloved, Pamela Anderson, let’s start with Jamie Lee Curtis, who in just four days of filming her scenes, brings a stellar performance as Annette, a weathered cocktail waitress from the Razzle Dazzle show. Beat by beat, line by line, and scene by scene she delivers. There’s even a moment of dancing that took me back immediately to her introduction of “sexy” Helen in True Lies. She’s remarkable — those shimmering blue eyelids practically tell their own story of decades spent under the neon lights. It’s understated yet poignant, and Curtis nails every beat. Jamie Lee Curtis infuses a quiet dignity to Annette that lingers long after the scene fades. And speaking of generational talent, Billie Lourd as Hannah, the daughter of the titular “last showgirl,” gives us a performance filled with helplessness and intensity. Her resemblance to her late mother, Carrie Fisher, adds an extra layer of emotion. It’s a deeply personal…