Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1998
Gia
Buy Gia now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'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.
Plot
Gia Carangi is a Philadelphia native who moves to New York City to become a fashion model, and immediately catches the attention of powerful agent Wilhelmina Cooper. Gia's attitude and beauty help her rise quickly to the forefront of the modeling industry, but 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
Reception
Critical reception
'Gia' was generally well received by critics, with an approval rating of 92% based on reviews from 13 critics on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. 'Kalamazoo Gazette' commented: "Jolie gives it her all in a thoroughly uninhibited and highly effective portrait of a woman living from thrill to thrill." Christopher Null of Filmcritic.com gave the film 3 out of 5 stars. 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."Awards
;Golden Globes* Angelina Jolie Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
* Faye Dunaway Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture
;Emmy Awards
* Eric A. Sears Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie
;Screen Actors Guild Awards
* Angelina Jolie Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
References
Buy Gia now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1998