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 | female frontal nudity | female nudity | lesbian | drug addiction | 

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Taglines:

This is life... not heaven... you don't have to be perfect.

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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: Femme de rêve

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

Janice Dickinson claims she co-wrote this movie (during 2015 Celebrity Big Brother UK)

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Goofs

When "Gia" is at the hospital and firsts learns of her condition, she is asked if she has heard of "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" (AIDS). "Gia" says no, but the real Gia has been quoted saying, "I'm sick, I don't feel good, I don't have anywhere to go ... I think I have AIDS."

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Quotes

Gia Carangi: I could do this, I could be a fucking housewife.

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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

There is an Unrated/extended version available. Linda & Gia's sex scenes are longer and more explicit. In the scene where Gia gives Linda hamburgers in the kitchen, Gia straddles Linda in the chair, and says, "Dinner is served!".

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Connections

Referenced in Talk Show the Game Show: Rare Air (2017)

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Soundtracks

The Killing Moon
Written by Will Sergeant (as William Alfred Sergeant), Les Pattinson (as Leslie Thomas Pattinson), Pete DeFreitas & Ian McCulloch
Performed by Echo & The Bunnymen
Courtesy of Sire Records/Warner Music U.K. Ltd.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Unforgettable

This movie turned out to be a very unexpected favorite of mine. Angelina Jolie stars as the late Gia Marie Carangi, an Italian American woman who rose from a humble Philidephian beginning to worldwide fame as the first known "supermodel", and whose short-lived career spanned from the late seventies to the early to mid eighties. Jolie is super-impressive as she portrays the highs and lows of Gia's fame: strutting through a crowd of admirers, the look on her face saying, "I'm GIA, and you're nobody!"; endulging in glamour drug of the moment, cocaine; fiercely proclaiming her love for Linda (Elizabeth Mitchell), right in front of Linda's boyfriend; tearfully begging her visiting mother (Mercedes Ruehl) to stay with her, then hurling obscenities at her while throwing her baggage out of the apartment; and quietly and gracefully accepting the most tragic news about her health, just as she's finally getting her life on track. This movie deals very frankly with Gia's sexuality and there is some nudity and scenes of sexuality, but looking past the sex and the drugs and the tough exterior she displayed (especially when someone took her knife away from her), you see a very lost, fragile person. Gia is almost childlike in her disillusionment about the fashion industry, and you feel it in the way she fantasizes about a "normal" life with children, the way she feels like people regard her as a "piece of meat" with no brains, and the way she is so truly hurt by a fellow model calling her hateful names in a jealous rage. I think this movie is something that should be seen by people of all ages, regardless of its sexual content, because it carries a strong anti-drug message as well as a touching story we can all identify with even if a lot of us are not blessed with the kind of glorious physical beauty Gia was blessed with.