Gia
1998 American biographical drama television film
title: "Gia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1998-television-films", "1998-films", "1998-drama-films", "1998-in-american-television", "1998-lgbtq-related-films", "1998-american-films", "1990s-biographical-drama-films", "1990s-english-language-films", "1990s-lgbtq-related-drama-films", "american-biographical-drama-films", "american-drama-television-films", "american-lgbtq-related-television-films", "biographical-films-about-lgbtq-people", "biographical-films-about-models", "american-biographical-television-films", "english-language-biographical-drama-films", "films-about-female-bisexuality", "films-about-heroin-addiction", "films-directed-by-michael-cristofer", "films-scored-by-terence-blanchard", "films-set-in-the-1970s", "films-set-in-the-1980s", "films-set-in-new-york-city", "films-set-in-philadelphia", "films-shot-in-los-angeles", "films-shot-in-new-york-city", "films-with-screenplays-by-michael-cristofer", "hbo-films-films", "hiv/aids-in-american-films", "hiv/aids-in-television", "lesbian-related-films"] description: "1998 American biographical drama television film" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1998 American biographical drama television film ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | Gia.png |
| image_size | 220 |
| caption | DVD cover |
| writer | Jay McInerney |
| Michael Cristofer | |
| director | Michael Cristofer |
| starring | Angelina Jolie |
| Faye Dunaway | |
| Mercedes Ruehl | |
| Elizabeth Mitchell | |
| composer | Terence Blanchard |
| country | United States |
| language | English |
| producer | James D. Brubaker |
| editor | Eric A. Sears |
| cinematography | Rodrigo García |
| runtime | 126 minutes |
| company | HBO Pictures |
| budget | $7.9 million |
| network | HBO |
| released | |
| :: |
| image = Gia.png | image_size = 220 | image_alt = | caption = DVD cover | genre = | writer = Jay McInerney Michael Cristofer | director = Michael Cristofer | starring = Angelina Jolie Faye Dunaway Mercedes Ruehl Elizabeth Mitchell | composer = Terence Blanchard | country = United States | language = English | producer = James D. Brubaker | editor = Eric A. Sears | cinematography = Rodrigo García | runtime = 126 minutes | company = HBO Pictures | budget = $7.9 million | network = HBO | released =
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
- Mila Kunis as Young 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 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. 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 and nominations
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Notes
References
References
- "Crowe gets to pick Wilder's brain". [[Variety (magazine).
- "Gia - Rotten Tomatoes". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
- Sanford, James. (2003). "James Sanford reviews Gia". [[Kalamazoo Gazette]].
- Null, Christopher. (1998). "Gia Movie Review, DVD Release". Filmcritic.com.
- Chambers, Bill. (19 August 2004). "Taking Lives (unrated director's cut - widescreen DVD + Blu-ray Disc) + Gia (unrated DVD)". Film Freak Central.
- (November 4, 1998). "1998 Artios Awards".
- "2nd Annual TV Awards (1997-98)".
- "Outfest: Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 1998".
- "Gia". [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]].
- "Nominees/Winners". [[IMDb]].
- "3rd Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards".
- "The 1st Costume Designers Guild Awards (1999)".
- "51st DGA Awards".
- "Past Winners of the GLAAD Media Awards". [[GLAAD]].
- "Gia – Golden Globes".
- "International Press Academy website – 1999 3rd Annual SATELLITE Awards".
- "The 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]].
- "WGA Awards 1999". [[Writers Guild of America Awards]].
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