Gia (1998)

The story of the life of Gia Carangi, a top fashion model from the late 1970s, from her meteoric rise to the forefront of the modeling industry, to her untimely death.

Director:

Michael Cristofer

Writers:

Jay McInerney, Michael Cristofer

Stars:

Angelina Jolie, Faye Dunaway, Elizabeth Mitchell

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Angelina Jolie	...	Gia Carangi
Elizabeth Mitchell	...	Linda
Eric Michael Cole	...	T.J.
Kylie Travis	...	Stephanie - Model
Louis Giambalvo	...	Joe Carangi
John Considine	...	Bruce Cooper
Scott Cohen	...	Mike Mansfield
Edmund Genest	...	Francesco (as Edmond Genest)
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Kathleen Carangi
Faye Dunaway	...	Wilhelmina Cooper
Holly Baker	...	Emergency Room Nurse
Joe Basile	...	Disco Doorman Tony
Rick Batalla	...	Hispanic Stylist Phillipe
Lombardo Boyar	...	Hood #2
Jullian Dulce Vida	...	Hood #3 (as Julio Dolce Vita)

Storyline

When Gia Carangi first arrives in New York City, she's a beautiful drop-out from Philadelphia brashly bursting through the closed doors of top modeling agent Wilhelmina Cooper. Gia's electrifying personality and potent sexuality soon find their way onto the covers of America's top-selling magazines. But being loved by the world isn't the same as being love by one - an unfulfilled desire that can take Gia dangerous places. And for a beautiful woman, one slip could lead to an untimely and terrifying downfall.

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Plot Keywords:

model | lesbian | drug addiction | aids | nude photo shoot | 

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Taglines:

Based on the tragic life and times of America's first supermodel.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic depiction of drug abuse, strong sexual content, language and some violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

31 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gia

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Marvin Worth Productions, Citadel Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 126 min (unrated) 117 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Dolby Surround)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Angelina Jolie's brother James Haven can be seen briefly leaning up against the wall in the beginning of the film when she and TJ are going into the tattoo parlor.

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Goofs

As Gia begs Linda not to leave, the first shot from behind shows her fully nude but from the front she can clearly be seen to be wearing underwear.

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Quotes

Tony: With a face like that, she doesn't need a name.
Gia Carangi: Actually, Tony, my face is a little higher.

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Crazy Credits

Closing disclaimer: This film is a dramatization based on certain facts. Some of the names have been changed and some of the events and characters have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.

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Alternate Versions

As of 2004, a more sexually explicit version is available in VHS format only (North America).

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Connections

Referenced in Family Guy: Blue Harvest (2007)

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Soundtracks

Let's Dance
Written by David Bowie
Performed by David Bowie
Courtesy of RZO Publishing, Inc. o/b/o J/TE Ent. Co., LLC

User Reviews

Give Ms. Jolie a decent script.... and watch out.....

Angelina Jolie has slogged her way through so much mediocre material, I can't even begin to understand how she has kept her love for acting. But it's undeniable... her talent and spirit are bottomless, and she could be a superstar if given the right movie role. 'Foxfire' wasn't it. 'Hackers' was a mess. And 'Gia' is well-intentioned exploitation at best. (I love sex scenes between women as much as the next guy, but the movie goes a little overboard..... there's a fine line between character growth and the Spice Channel, apparently.) A decent biography, I guess, and Jolie does as much as possible with the limited script. But if there's any justice in this world, Jolie will be in the Hollywood elite soon, rather than toiling away on hedonistic HBO works.