'The Last Showgirl' Reviews: Pamela Anderson Could Nab an Oscar Nod!

         On December 13, 2024, Roadside Attractions releases 'The Last Showgirl', which has earned predominantly positive reviews from critics and a score of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing. In the film, "a glamorous showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run." The ensemble cast includes Pamela Anderson, Dave Bautista, John Clofine, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Billie Lourd. Read the full review round-up below.

        Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist notes, "When Curtis walks onto a table in the middle of a casino and starts dancing to Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” throwing her job away as visitors barely notice, you know there is something special here. You just wish there was more of it" Concluding, "For most of the film, Anderson has played her role, for lack of a better description, as very demure, very mindful. It’s been mostly a quiet, confident performance. Shelly has her own set of street smarts but has almost lived her entire life in this Vegas strip bubble. When the bubble pops, Anderson unleashes an unforeseen wave of emotion encapsulating Shelly’s pain. Many may have recognized that Anderson was an underrated actress before “The Last Showgirl.” That being said, few believed she could project this from deep within her soul. Describing it as a revelation may be a stretch, but it’s damn close."

Photo Courtesy of Roadside Attractions

        Amber Wilkinson of Eye for Film says, "The script marks a step up from TV shows for Kate Gertsen (The Good Place, Mozart In The Jungle) and she brings a lot of verve to the dialogue, especially in early scenes where talk of the price of lemons mixes with costume snagging and general conversation as the dancers scramble about backstage, captured with grace by cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw. But while Gertsen proves sure-footed in the melee, her characterisations lack the detail in the film's more quiet moments to fully sell the emotional beats. Anderson, for her part, acquits herself well, bringing an edge of panic to the perpetually sunny-side-up Shelley as she finds the illusions she has carefully crafted for herself start to crumble. The supporting cast are uniformly strong, particularly Bautista, who brings a real soulfulness to his role and Jason Schwarzman (Coppola’s cousin), enjoying a sharply written cameo."

       Peter Debruge of Variety was less impressed, stating, "The Last Showgirl intends to reclaim the nobility of these women, to remind that they’re real people, with dreams and disappointments of their own. But a little more dimension would have gone a long way." Continuing, "Granted, there’s something poignant and vulnerable in Anderson’s decision to play a Las Vegas dancer who’s lost her sparkle. Shelly joined the “Razzle Dazzle” revue in 1987 (two years before “Baywatch” debuted on TV), sacrificing everything — including the traditional duties expected of parents — to live her dream of performing on the Strip. More than three decades later, she struggles to keep up with the younger girls, whom she treats like adopted daughters. While Jodie (Kiernan Shipka) and Marianne (Brenda Song) are flexible enough to get other jobs, Shelly is knocked sideways when she hears from stage manager/old flame Eddie (an uncharacteristically gentle Dave Bautista, doing his best Kris Kristofferson) that the show is closing."

'The Killer's Game' Reviews: "The Killer’s Game will be a blast for anyone who shows up to watch Bautista throw down, but they’re also going to get a glimpse at the rest of his career taking on more diverse roles"

         On September 13, 2024, Lionsgate released 'The Killer's Game', which has received a predominantly negative reception from critics and a score of 28% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, "when top hitman Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands -- by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend (Sofia Boutella), he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it's too late." The ensemble cast includes Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, Pom Klementieff, and Ben Kingsley. Read the full review round-up below.

       Aaron Neuwirth of We Live Entertainment notes, "If there’s a commonality shared between most films focused on assassins, butchers, hitmen, and other professional killers, it’s how much they lean into the absurdity. Whether they take a dramatic angle that places you in the mind of a morally flexible contract killer or something more broadly observed antics of a hatchet man, there’s still this pervasive sheen of cool that has no place in reality. And yet, it’s a (basically fictional) career that is continually used in movies because there’s something fun and/or alluring about watching these particular people doing their jobs. The Killer’s Game is not setting out to provide any new perspective on the life of a button man. It does aim to give many excuses to put together a fun cast of actors and notable stunt performers in the same room for a series of comic book-like fights. It’s most certainly a movie leaning on the broad side of the life of an assassin, but it has enough of a fun spirit to make do with how silly it all is despite Dave Bautista once again showing what he’s got as a proven performer."

       Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics says, "The Killer’s Game will be a blast for anyone who shows up to watch Bautista throw down, but they’re also going to get a glimpse at the rest of his career taking on more diverse roles."

       Wilson Chapman of indieWire was less impressed, stating, "Alas, Bautista hasn’t gotten a straightforward rom-com vehicle yet. But, while it’s probably not the type of movie he was thinking of when he made his initial plea to become America’s sweetheart, “The Killer’s Game” comes closer than expected. From stunt choreographer-turned-director J. J. Perry, the R-rated Lionsgate release is a bloody action-comedy that struggles to pair its two separate genres together into a cohesive whole. Interestingly though, it’s at its best not when it’s placing Bautista in guts-and-gore-filled fights, but when it’s letting the actor do his best Hugh Grant impression as a sad sack just looking for love."

Photo by Felix Mooneeram on Unsplash

       Frank Scheck of Hollywood Reporter writes, "Much of the comedy stems from Joe’s loving relationship with his handler Zvi Rabinowitz (a very funny Ben Kingsley, clearly relishing the opportunity to unveil one of his many accents) and Zvi’s exuberant wife (Alex Kingston), who treat Joe like the son they never had. Their barb-filled banter could easily be taking place on a bench in Boca Raton, with Zvi frequently spouting an aphorism about how to leave their profession: “You walk away clean, or you go out on your back.” The picture benefits greatly from its beautiful European locations, especially Budapest, whose opera house is the setting for the elaborate opening action sequence. And the love story improbably works, with Bautista looking like a besotted Shrek when he scoops up the lithe Boutella in his arms and displays the wide smile that makes him look lovable rather than menacing. The actor’s decidedly offbeat screen presence, plus of course his formidable physicality, make him a perfect fit for the character."