In one way, “The Last Showgirl” comes across as a very personal production for its star. At the same time, there is a universality to the story that will reach a large audience. This duality makes for a production that is intimately touching while feeling emotionally massive. Pamela Anderson turns in the performance of her acting lifetime portraying Shelly, a Las Vegas showgirl who has spent 30 years dancing and strutting across a stage for the leering pleasure of an endless string of heavy drinkers. The announcement her show is going to end to make way for a more modern production leaves Shelly facing the harsh reality of an uncertain future. When all you know is being a showgirl, the job market is razor thin (especially for a showgirl who is best described as being very mature). There are times when an actor takes on a role that is so much like them that the line between fantasy and fact blurs like newsprint in the rain. This is such a case. Anderson’s career has been built on the physical attributes she could bring to roles on “Home Improvement” and “Baywatch.” She became a star because of those roles but there is little acting challenge in saying “Here’s Tim – the Tool Man – Taylor” or running in slow motion down the beach. There is nothing wrong with these kinds of roles if they help pay the bills. The problem is that building a career on physical attributes is like being a professional athlete. There is always the point where the soul might be willing, but the body no longer can answer the call. Anderson’s never been known as a great actor and that suggests the superb work she does in “The Last Showgirl” comes more from the heart than her acting skills. There is a pathos to the character that can only be generated by a top thespian or someone who can honestly relate to the story being told. The film would not have worked without being able to feel the real confusion, loss and pain Shelly faces knowing the spotlight is being turned off. Anderson has made the role resonate with so much truth she has already earned numerous awards nominations including a Golden Globe nod. Then there is the broader story written by Kate Gersten. Shelly’s story is one that generations have lived. Whether it be a diminished physical capability, the end of a job or the ravages of economical whirlpools, facing the end to a cherished career has been a constant since humans started working for a living. It is easy to see Shelly as an emotional mirror reflecting the pain and self-doubts that come when life takes an abrupt change of direction. Lock on that element and the film rises above a 21st Century version “Sunset Boulevard” to be an anthem for anyone who has loved and lost whether that be a person, place or thing. The work Anderson does would be enough to give “The Last Showgirl” another audience but the supporting cast ups the quality even more. It is always a joy to see the talented Jamie Lee Curtis getting juicy roles in a world where actresses of her age normally are ignored. Curtis plays Shelly’s best friend Annette who in many ways is a peak at the showgirl’s future. When Annette’s time in the spotlight ended, she took a job as a waitress to pay the bills while staying in the world that smells of cheap liquor and too much perfume. The fact Curtis makes the supporting player so textured ends up supporting the work by Anderson. Misery not only loves company, but it thrives in a world of frustrations and bleak futures. Rounding out the solid cast work are Brenda Strong in a surprisingly mature role for the mainstay of Disney productions and Dave Bautista turning in a very sensitive performance. Director Gia Coppola went against the norm with both, and the decision was a major benefit to the production. “The Last Showgirl” can be viewed with great pleasure from a voyeur’s standpoint watching the performer’s life smash into the wall of uncertainty. It can also be enjoyed as a reflection of anyone’s life who has faced the same collision course. Either way, it is a film that deserves the spotlight. Movie review The Last Showgirl Grade: B+ Cast: Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Strong, Dave Bautista. Director: Gia Coppola Rated: R for language, nudity Running time: 89 minutes.