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A Chilling True Story That Left a Lasting Impression
bykopiluwak
Film and TV•15 hours ago
5.0
photo_library34
Gia (1998)
Productstar 5.0

Gia (1998)

Get ready to be blown away by Gia Carangi's incredible true story - the world's first supermodel to land an impressive 17 international Vogue magazine covers. This film takes you on a powerful and emotional journey, exploring Gia's meteoric rise to fame and her tough struggles with addiction and personal demons.
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A Chilling True Story That Left a Lasting Impression

summarizeEditor's Summary

I still remember watching the movie 'Gia' for the first time, and it's a film that has stuck with me years later. Based on a true story, it's a biographical drama that tells the tale of Gia Carangi, one of the world's first supermodels. The movie's portrayal of Gia's struggles with borderline personality disorder and her rise to fame is both captivating and heartbreaking. I'm not even sure when I first watched the movie, but it definitely wasn't when it came out - I was only 14 at the time, and I just didn't have the resources for it back then. With the rise of the internet, movies became a lot more accessible, and I probably saw the movie around 10 years later, and more likely, it was even longer than that. Gia's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health and the dangers of the fashion industry. The film's exploration of Gia's relationships with her family and friends is also noteworthy, as it provides a glimpse into the personal costs of her fame. Overall, the movie is a gripping and emotional ride that will leave viewers thinking long after the credits roll.

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settingsSpecifications

Kararİyi
FilmKalitesi8/10
KameraSanatı7/10
HikayeKalitesi9/10
I still remember watching the movie 'Gia' for the first time, and it's a film that has stuck with me years later. Based on a true story, it's a biographical drama that tells the tale of Gia Carangi, one of the world's first supermodels.
I'm not even sure when I first watched the movie, but it definitely wasn't when it came out - I was only 14 at the time, and I just didn't have the resources for it back then.
With the rise of the internet, movies became a lot more accessible, and I probably saw the movie around 10 years later, and more likely, it was even longer than that.
Name - "Gia"
Year of release - 1998
Country - USA
Vacation restrictions - 18+
Duration - 120 minutes
Genre - Biography, Drama.
Plot.
The film 'Gia' tells the story of a simple American girl who was born in the distant 1960s in an ordinary American family. Gia grew up and became one of the first supermodels, finding herself in the world of fashion at just 17 years old, and quickly becoming more than just a successful model. Gia Carangi was one of the first 'super-models', a sex symbol of the late 70s to early 80s, but her fate was as tragic as it gets.
"Gia" (English "Gia") - a biographical television drama that tells the story of the life and death of mannequin Gia Marie Carangi.
The film is based on the biography of the famous 1970s fashion model Gia Marie Carangi, on her personal diary, stories of her loved ones, friends, and colleagues, starting from when she worked with her father at a diner at 17, and ending with her death from AIDS at the age of 26 (in 1986). Gia became one of the first women whose cause of death was openly named as the HIV virus.
I've been interested in fashion, photography, sewing, shows, and fashion magazines since I was a kid, but I hadn't heard the story of this girl before watching the film.
My associations with the style of shooting.
I was surprised to find that the movie was actually presented on HBO, and it reminded me of the first season of Sex and the City, which also came out in 1998. The beginning of the film and some episodes had a similar style to the first season of Sex and the City, with flashbacks and gritty street scenes that felt like they were straight out of the show. The documentary-style part, Gia, and the scenes of the girl at home all looked like they were from the first season of Sex and the City.
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The movie isn't dramatic – the story of Gia is dramatic enough.xa0
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Casting.
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​​​​Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mercedes Ruehl, Eric Michael Cole, Scott Cohen, Faye Dunaway, Kylie Travis, Luis Guzmán, John Considine, Edmund Genére​​​​​
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Andie MacDowell played Gia Carangi.
I'd read that Andie MacDowell was hesitant to take on the role because the story was too close to her own life.
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I don't see a lot of resemblance between Angelina Jolie and the young Gia Carangi, no matter how hard I look. I think Jolie stays true to herself in the film, at least for the first third to half of it. Maybe Jolie's personal story influenced her portrayal, but she's playing herself partially and only starts to transform into Gia towards the end of the film, when the story stops resembling her life.
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After watching the film, I looked at a lot of photos, read about Gia's whirlwind career, and her problems, and I just don't see that girl in the movie. Jolie doesn't have Gia's magnetism and sharpness, that certain gaze, no matter how hard I try.
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Jolie as a kid is played by Mila Kunis, but that's just a few scenes.
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Image of the film xa0
Linda, Gia's lover, is played by Elizabeth Mitchell.
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Image of Elizabeth Mitchell xa0
Wilhelmina Cooper is played by Faye Dunaway.
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Image of Faye Dunaway xa0
Gia's mom, Kathleen Carangi, is played by Meredith Ruehl.
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Image of Meredith Ruehl xa0
About Gia.
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Gia, according to the film, was different with different people, I guess no one ever really knew the real her. She was unhappy, deeply unhappy and lonely. There were shoots all around the world, magazine covers, popularity, everyone wanted a piece of her, but nobody paid attention to the growing problems. It's like the fairy tale Gia reads from her diary in the film.
I've seen how the pressure to look perfect can take a toll on young girls, with many of them pulling out their golden locks every day.
It's like no one wants to acknowledge their struggles.
As time went on, some of them turned to narcotics as a way to cope with the emotional pain. The darker side of popularity.
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Narcotics as a way to silence internal pain. In hindsight, this girl needed a therapist or counselor long before the addiction issues set in.
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Modelling isn't art, it's not even culture - it's just advertising, it's about money, and someone's gotta pay for every dollar you earn.
When you have everything, you end up with nothing.
A million people want to take your picture this month.
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Then there were the photoshoots where they'd style her with makeup while she was passed out from substance abuse, trying to hide the needle marks.
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This girl was surrounded by people who loved her, but she lacked that one person who could be her rock. She was immature, complex in her personality, and never really grew up. And then it was too late.
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I think it's hard to separate the film from the real-life context, but this film left a lasting impression on me even after the first viewing. It's been years, but I still remember those emotions.
I got to know the model's story after that first watch.
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The emotions in the film.
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We use them and discard them.
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The film is shot in a way that makes you feel sorry for Angelina Jolie's character, and it's clear why her life turned out so tragically. I think the root cause is the lack of parental attention – her mother left the family when the girl was 11 years old. The whirlwind career, lack of inner strength, and deep sense of isolation led her to drugs. A stark example of how events can go wrong in life. Gia Carangi couldn't stop, get her act together, grow up, deal with success, or take control of her life. She was reckless, beautiful, and unhappy. Unfortunately, that's a common story.
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I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty of who's to blame. I don't want to accept the fact that parents often inflict wounds on their kids that they can never recover from. The mother in the film is portrayed as trying to shift the blame for what happened to her daughter.
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What you won't see in the film.
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The fashion industry is barely shown, just a backdrop for the story. You won't get a sense of the atmosphere of the 80s. Only a few scenes hint at that time period.
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There's no sleaze or coarseness in the film either.
But there's no genuine care for each other, no unconditional love. The relationships in the film are shallow and surface-level. The relationship between Gia and her lover, Gia and her mother – it's clear that Gia was dependent on them, but not everyone can handle life with a addict.
You won't see the real Gia Carangi here; no one knew what she was really like.
What really stood out to me?
I loved the visually stunning photography, the subtle exploration of LGBTQ+ themes, and the fantastic soundtrack that ran throughout the movie.
The film also delves into the pain and loneliness of a girl who had it all, but ultimately crashed down to earth.
A girl who had everything, but lost it all.
Misused life and what could've been...
The film feels like a tribute to this vibrant girl's story.
Love your children.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What is the movie 'Gia' about?

The movie 'Gia' is a biographical drama that tells the story of Gia Carangi, one of the world's first supermodels. The film follows Gia's rise to fame and her struggles with borderline personality disorder.

Who plays the lead role in the movie 'Gia'?

Angelina Jolie plays the lead role of Gia Carangi in the movie 'Gia'.

What is the rating for the movie 'Gia'?

The movie 'Gia' is rated R for language, some violence, and mature themes.

How long is the movie 'Gia'?

The movie 'Gia' is 120 minutes long.

What is the genre of the movie 'Gia'?

The movie 'Gia' is a biographical drama with elements of romance and tragedy.

Is the movie 'Gia' based on a true story?

Yes, the movie 'Gia' is based on the true story of Gia Carangi, one of the world's first supermodels.

What are some of the themes explored in the movie 'Gia'?

The movie 'Gia' explores themes of mental health, self-care, and the dangers of the fashion industry.

Is the movie 'Gia' suitable for all ages?

No, the movie 'Gia' is rated R and may not be suitable for all ages due to language, some violence, and mature themes.

What awards did the movie 'Gia' win?

The movie 'Gia' won several awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for Angelina Jolie's performance.

check_circlePros

  • •The movie is based on a true story, which makes it all the more compelling.
  • •The acting is superb, with Angelina Jolie delivering a standout performance as Gia.
  • •The film's portrayal of Gia's struggles with borderline personality disorder is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking.
  • •The movie shows the darker side of the fashion industry and the toll it takes on models.
  • •Gia's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health and self-care.
  • •The movie is well-made, with a strong script and excellent direction.
  • •The film's exploration of Gia's relationships with her family and friends is also noteworthy.
  • •The movie's portrayal of the fashion industry is realistic and thought-provoking.

cancelCons

  • •The movie can be quite depressing at times, especially when it comes to Gia's struggles with mental health.
  • •Some viewers may find the pacing a bit slow, especially in the first half of the film.
  • •The movie doesn't always accurately portray Gia's life, with some events and characters being fictionalized.
  • •The fashion industry is portrayed as being very superficial, which may be off-putting for some viewers.
  • •Gia's relationships with her family and friends are not fully explored, which can be frustrating for viewers.
  • •The movie ends on a sad note, which may leave viewers feeling down.
  • •Some viewers may find the movie's portrayal of Gia's mental health struggles to be triggering.
  • •The movie's exploration of the fashion industry's darker side may be disturbing for some viewers.
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Gia (1998)

Gia (1998)

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