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Gia is a 1998 American biographical drama television film about the life and times of one of the first supermodels, Gia Carangi. The film stars Angelina Jolie as Gia and Faye Dunaway as Wilhelmina Cooper, with Mercedes Ruehl and Elizabeth Mitchell. It was directed by Michael Cristofer and written by Cristofer and Jay McInerney. The original music score was composed by Terence Blanchard. The film premiered on January 31, 1998 on HBO.

Plot[]

Gia Carangi is a Philadelphia native who moves to New York City to become a fashion model and immediately catches the attention of the powerful agent Wilhelmina Cooper. Gia's attitude and beauty help her rise quickly to the forefront of the modeling industry. However, her persistent loneliness, especially after the death of Wilhelmina, drives her to use mood-altering drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

She becomes entangled in a passionate affair with Linda, a make-up artist. Their love affair first starts when both pose nude for a photo shoot and make love afterward. Gia tries to get clean and begins taking methadone. However, Gia eventually starts using again and Linda gives her an ultimatum. Gia chooses the drugs.

Failed attempts at reconciliation with Linda and with her mother, Kathleen, drive Gia back to heroin. Although she is eventually able to break her drug habit after much effort, she has already contracted HIV from intravenous drug use, which has progressed to AIDS. She spends the remainder of her life in the hospital.

Cast[]

  • Angelina Jolie as Gia Carangi
  • Faye Dunaway as Wilhelmina Cooper
  • Mercedes Ruehl as Kathleen Carangi, Gia's estranged mother
  • Elizabeth Mitchell as Linda
  • Scott Cohen as Mike Mansfield
  • Kylie Travis as Stephanie
  • Edmund Genest as Francesco Scavullo
  • Alexander Enberg as Chris von Wangenheim
  • Louis Giambalvo as Joseph Carangi
  • Eric Michael Cole as T.J.
  • John Considine as Bruce Cooper
  • James Haven as a young man on Sansom street
  • Rick Batalla as Phillipe
  • Brian Donovan as junkie at Shooting Gallery
  • Tricia O'Neil as Vogue editor
  • Sam Pancake as Francesco stylist #1
  • Adina Porter as Girl at Group Therapy
  • Michael E. Rodgers as Red dress photographer
  • Nick Spano as Michael
  • Jason Stuart as Booker #2

Reception[]

Critical reception[]

Gia received positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 93% of 15 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.00/10.[1] Kalamazoo Gazette commented: "Jolie gives it her all in a thoroughly uninhibited and highly effective portrait of a woman living from thrill to thrill."[2] Christopher Null of Filmcritic.com gave the film 3 out of 5 stars.[3] Conversely, Film Freak Central gave the film only 1.5 out of 4 stars and commented: "Gia isn't hagiography, I'll give it that, but it is reductive to a fault."[4]

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Template:Center Artios Awards Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week Junie Lowry Johnson Won [5]
Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [6]
Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Angelina Jolie WonTemplate:Efn
Outfest Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film Won [7]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie Marvin Worth, Ilene Kahn Power,

David R. Ginsburg, and James D. Brubaker

Nominated [8]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Angelina Jolie Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie Jay McInerney and Michael Cristofer Nominated
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Movie Libby Goldstein and Junie Lowry Johnson Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Movie Robert Turturice Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie Eric A. Sears Won
Template:Center American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Two-Hour Movie for Non-Commercial Television Won [9]
Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-Series David J. Bomba and John R. Jensen Nominated [10]
Costume Designers Guild Awards Excellence in Costume Design for Television Robert Turturice Nominated [11]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries Michael Cristofer Won [12]
GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding TV Movie or TV Mini-Series Nominated [13]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [14]
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Angelina Jolie Won
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Faye Dunaway WonTemplate:Efn
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [15]
Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Angelina Jolie Won
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Faye Dunaway Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Angelina Jolie Won [16]
Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form – Original Jay McInerney and Michael Cristofer Nominated [17]

External links[]

References[]

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