# Gia

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. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.0/10. 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

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 1998 | Artios Awards | Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week | Junie Lowry Johnson | Won |
| 1998 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1998 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Angelina Jolie | Won |
| 1998 | Outfest | Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film | Angelina Jolie | Won |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Marvin Worth, Ilene Kahn Power, David R. Ginsburg, and James D. Brubaker | Nominated |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Angelina Jolie | Nominated |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Jay McInerney and Michael Cristofer | Nominated |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Movie | Libby Goldstein and Junie Lowry Johnson | Nominated |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Movie | Robert Turturice | Nominated |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Eric A. Sears | Won |
| 1999 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Two-Hour Movie for Non-Commercial Television | Eric A. Sears | Won |
| 1999 | Art Directors Guild Awards | Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-Series | David J. Bomba and John R. Jensen | Nominated |
| 1999 | Costume Designers Guild Awards | Excellence in Costume Design for Television | Robert Turturice | Nominated |
| 1999 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries | Michael Cristofer | Won |
| 1999 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding TV Movie or TV Mini-Series | Outstanding TV Movie or TV Mini-Series | Nominated |
| 1999 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1999 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Angelina Jolie | Won |
| 1999 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Faye Dunaway | Won |
| 1999 | Satellite Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1999 | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Angelina Jolie | Won |
| 1999 | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Faye Dunaway | Nominated |
| 1999 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie | Angelina Jolie | Won |
| 1999 | Writers Guild of America Awards | Long Form – Original | Jay McInerney and Michael Cristofer | Nominated |