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
Jules Douglas	...	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 | drug addiction | aids | female frontal nudity | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Why me?

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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

Elizabeth Mitchell's character Linda is a fake name for real-life makeup artist (and Gia's once-girlfriend) Sandy Linter.

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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

Francesco: I know, I know. Life is so disappointing. Here you are. You have arrived. You are here. This is your moment. What do you have? You have pain. You have everything. What do you have? You have nothing. Everything is right, or everything is wrong. It's disappointing, it's confusing. This is life. What can we do?
Gia Carangi: People keep going away from me, that hurts.
Francesco: Work. You have a gift, use it. Life, life will be there later. When you have worked, and you have lived, and you know who you are, life is easy. ...
[...]

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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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Connections

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999)

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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

An unforgettable film

An unforgettable film about a supermodel, named simply Gia. Stunning performance by Angelina Jolie as Gia and Faye Dunaway as her agent. The movie plays out like a documentary and is filled with interviews by those who knew her during her career as a model and the family who loved her. It's a fast paced film and exciting to see the underground world of modeling. It is based on Gia's often-poignant journal. It gives us a glimpse on the darker side of fame that we do not often look in on. It will be hard to watch at times and harder not to at others. It will make you thankful that if you are thirty or forty-something, that you made it through this difficult time in life, a time when no one knew about the painful consequences that would consume a life. Gia is a movie for the strong at heart or the weak who wish to be stronger. After watching the movie, I looked at her website and was eerily surprised that I recognized that face from one of my mom's Cosmopolitans. I am grateful her memory lives on through her journal and this under-rated film. Two-thumbs up!