MOVIE REVIEW: THE LAST SHOWGIRL

 

A seasoned showgirl must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.

Director: Gia Coppola

Cast: Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Billie Lourd, Jason Schwartzman

Release Date: January 8, 2025

Genre: Drama

Rated R for violence, some sexual content, graphic nudity and language.

Runtime: 1h 29m

Review:

Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl stripped down tale of a fading showgirl is powered by a reflective, sorrowful turn from Pamela Anderson that propels the film's straightforward narrative.  Coppola style is naturalistic with moments that capture an almost dreamlike quality to the setting and subjects.  There are echoes of Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler on multiple occasions although the script lacks that film's depth in terms of character development.  This works more as a pensive piece that takes advantage of Anderson's lived experiences.  Anderson's wispy voice vacillates between inspired by nostalgia and sadness as the present collapses on her.  She's given a handful of moments where she channels her own experiences to deliver some of the film's more powerful moments, particularly in the film's latter half.  It’s an impressive performance that gives the character a level of realistic humanity as she tries to keep up a brave face while she's slowly cracking underneath.  The supporting cast is solid even though they all suffer from being terribly underwritten which mostly wastes the talents of Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Dave Bautista and Billie Lourd.  Jamie Lee Curtis though manages to make the most of her screentime as an over tanned, well past her prime cocktail waitress.  Anderson and Curtis make for a strong pair onscreen, but the film never takes full advantage of it to really flesh out their relationship.  It’s a similar situation with her much younger coworkers, played dutifully by Song and Shipka, as the film gives us only the most simplistic version of their relationships.  The Last Showgirl provides Anderson a perfect showcase to shine but once the credits roll you are left feeling there was a better film in there somewhere.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: LONGLEGS

 

FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.

Director: Oz Perkins

Cast: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, Blair Underwood, Kiernan Shipka

Release Date: July 12, 2024

Genre: Crime, Horror, Thriller

Rated R for bloody violence, disturbing images and some language.

Runtime: 1h 41m

Review:

Oz Perkins' latest film, Longlegs, is an atmospheric amalgam of The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en lead by a strong, tortured turn from Maika Monroe and utterly unrestrained performance from Nicolas Cage.  Perkins film is beautifully shot with each sequence carefully constructed so as to illicit a foreboding sense of dread and unease even during the most mundane moments.  He again displays his innate ability to create a consistent and almost oppressive sense of tension throughout his films which he does in spades here.  The tension builds at a steady rate with only a few missteps here and there, less Nicolas Cage would have served the film better, to break the overall mood.  Cage is effectively creepy when he pops up, aided by heavy make up and prosthetics, and it’s clear that Perkins gave him carte blanche to do whatever he wants.  The result is a mixed bag since there are moments that take you out of the overall mood when Cage's unrestrained nuttiness is unleashed for tad too long.  This is a perfect case of less is more especially as the film spends so much time establishing a pervasive, uncomfortable mood as it delivers a series of nightmarish images that are sure to linger after the film ends.  Maika Monroe guides us through it all with an impressive, understated performance that might be one of the best of her career.  Her character is a tortured savant with barely functioning people skills that is like a mix of Clarice Starling and Dustin Hoffman's Rain Man.  It’s a nuanced measured turn that makes her the most interesting performer onscreen for the majority of the film.  The moments she shares with Alicia Witt, who's just as creepy as Cage but more measured, are just as disquieting as anything the film throws at you.  Blair Underwood is solid in a supporting role as Harker's boss and Kiernan Shipka leaves a noticeable impression in a small role.  Those looking for logical story progression might be left a little frustrated since it doesn't hold up on closer inspection and it doesn't provide any surprises that aren't telegraphed beforehand.  They are minor issues but enough to keep Longlegs from being something truly special.   

B+