Gia

Written by Jay McInerney
Michael Cristofer
Directed by Michael Cristofer
Starring Angelina Jolie
Faye Dunaway
Mercedes Ruehl
Elizabeth Mitchell
Theme music composer
Terence Blanchard
Country of origin United States
Original language(s)
English
Production
Producer(s) James D. Brubaker
Editor(s) Eric A. Sears
Cinematography Rodrigo García
Running time 126 minutes
Release
Original network HBO
Original release January 31, 1998


Gia is a 1998 biographical HBO film about the tragic life and times of one of America's first supermodels , Gia Marie Carangi. The film stars Angelina Jolie as Gia and Faye Dunaway as
Wilhelmina Cooper, 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 (Angelina Jolie ) 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 (Faye Dunaway ). Gia's attitude and beauty help her rise quickly to the forefront of the modeling industry, but her persistent loneliness after the death of Wilhelmina drives her to experiment with mood-altering drugs like cocaine. She becomes entangled in a passionate affair with Linda (Elizabeth Mitchell ), a make-up artist. Their love affair first starts when both pose nude and make love to each other after a photo shoot. However, after a while Linda begins to worry about Gia's drug use and gives her an ultimatum; Gia chooses the drugs. Failed attempts at reconciliation with Linda and with her mother, Kathleen (Mercedes Ruehl ), drive Gia to begin abusing heroin . Although she is eventually able to break her drug habit after much effort, she has already contracted HIV from a needle containing infected blood.
Cast
Angelina Jolie as Gia Carangi
Mila Kunis as Gia Carangi (at age 11)
Faye Dunaway as Wilhelmina Cooper
Mercedes Ruehl as Kathleen Carangi
Elizabeth Mitchell as Linda
Scott Cohen as Mike Mansfield
Edmund Genest as Francesco Scavullo
Alexander Enberg as Chris von Wangenheim
Louis Giambalvo as Joseph Carangi
Eric Michael Cole as T.J.
Kylie Travis as Stephanie
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
Joan Pringle as therapist at Rehab
Michael E. Rodgers as Red dress photographer
Holly Sampson as Amy
Nick Spano as Michael
Jason Stuart as Booker #2
Audrey Wasilewski as Wilhelmina's receptionist
Chuck Zito as Harley biker