The Last Showgirl (what to expect)
Scorecard, 2025 Most Anticipated
We are pumped to be bringing you the first scorecard of 2025. While we might be in Dumpuary (most movies released in January and February aren’t expected to do well at the box office), you can count on us to see as many movies as we can just in case there is a diamond in the rough that’s worth you getting your tush to the theater for.
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: The Last Showgirl
Temp These Takes: Movies the crew is most excited to see this year
This week’s movie - “The Last Showgirl”
Letterboxd Description:
When the glittering Las Vegas revue she has headlined for decades announces it will soon close, a glamorous showgirl must reconcile with the decisions she’s made and the community she has built as she plans her next act.
Best Watched With
Multigenerational family members who did their best in this life.
End credit thoughts
The Last Showgirl is a small-plot movie with a big heart. This independent film stretched a small budget and squeezed every ounce of life from every dollar. 1 The final product is a look at the life of a seasoned showgirl who’s dream was her reality for 30 years until it suddenly comes to an abrupt halt. We felt the heartbreak and the heaviness of what one gives up to live out a dream, and the anxiety that follows the question, “What next?”
Shot on film, the tones and colors capture the old school Vegas vibes. The richness and excitement of the legendary Strip have some grain and fade, matching the arch of the story. The score is moving, it deepens the heartbreaks, and Miley Cyrus’ original song brought tears that could have been tears of joy or sorrow.
Gia Coppola (of the notable Coppola filmmaking family) wrote The Last Showgirl specifically for Pamela Anderson2 and what a visionary move that was. Coppola directed Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista to award-worthy performances.
Anderson is remarkable as Shelly the Showgirl, putting on a dazzling show on and off the stage. Jamie Lee Curtis (Annette) has limited screen time but is a powerhouse making use of every second. Anderson and Curtis both embody a generation of Vegas entertainment working women who blur the line between survival living their dream. Dave Bautista plays Eddie the producer, and continues to prove himself to be a bonafide thespian and not just a wrestler turned actor.
The Last Showgirl is one of those movies where the blood, sweat, and tears is evident. The heavy subject matter is held up by phenomenal performances from Anderson and Curtis, and Bautista is well on his way to getting his flowers. If you want to support smaller, independent movies and be stunned by Anderson, you’ll want to see this one in theaters. But most can watch The Last Showgirl from the comfort of their home, having a great time doing so.
Wait to stream this one at home.
Watch the trailer here
Kelly
I am salivating at the mouth for THE HOUSEMAID. Reading this book in less than 12 hours was a fever dream. Nina and Millie’s casting?! FIRE. I think Sydney and Amanda will do the book justice. I will say though…Atlas? What are you doing here?
Josh
THERE'S SO MANY! Cinema is so back! (more back than when I said this in 2024). It's tough to whittle this down but I will do so to three. In order of release, Bong Joon-Ho's Mickey 17 (March). Bong has quickly become one of my favorite filmmakers especially after he called the Oscar's a very local film festival.
Call me basic, call me whatever you want, James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash (December). Make 100, I'll watch 100.
Lastly, Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme (Christmas). I love Uncut Gems and Good Time so I am stoked to see how this one plays out, especially because it stars Timothée Chamalet who is quickly climbing the ranks as best actor of the millennial generation.
Eric
Mickey 17 and 28 Years Later, baby. We have written Watchlist Worthy segments for BOTH of these bad boys, so I don’t need to say much. But come the hell on - how can we not root for another Bong Joon-ho WTF masterpiece along with a third installment in one of the better horror series of all time. Bring it on 2025.
New Mexico Drew
Sinners - Here is my official member of The Ryan Coogler & Michael B Jordan Stan Club card. This duo is unstoppable. Coogler's Jordan Peele era? I cannot wait.
28 Years Later - 28 Days is an all time top ten movie. This cast? I'll wake from the dead for it.
The Running Man - I loved the Schwarzenegger original when I was a kid, and Wright directed another one of my top ten movies - Shawn of The Dead. Then you throw in Coleman Domingo? This is NMD catnip.
Fantastic Four: First Steps - I think this is the 15th iteration of the FF - but you'd be insane if you didn't think this is THE lineup.
Honorable mentions: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Superman, The Monkey
What’s your take? Hit Reply or leave a comment below and let us know!
Tune in next week for | The Brutalist
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We went to a showing with a Q&A livestream with Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis, and Curtis claimed the budget to be 1.7 million and their production offices were in the “shitty” basement of the shitty “Rio.” This movie was shot in 18 days. Google tells us the average is 60 to 120 days of shooting on set.
In the Q&A livestream Anderson said this script was written for her. Her agent, at the time, passed on the project without mentioning it to Anderson. The script made its way to Anderson and she fell in love with it. Anderson, at 57 years old, stated she feels her career is just beginning with this movie.