Gia (Unrated Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Gia - A tragic true tale!
Review: "Gia" is quite simply the haunting but well told story of Gia Marie Carangi. Truth be told, I was not drawn to this movie at first because of the story, what drew me and I'm sure many others to it is the star Angelina Jolie. After her success in the Tomb Raider movies, I thought it would be interesting to see some of her past work, thus this movie became very interesting!

Angelina Jolie performs admirably and brilliantly in this film, almost to perfection in what I'm sure is an even greater range in her talents. The depth of the character she portrays does compel you to the character despite already knowing the tragic outcome. Praise goes to Faye Dunaway and Mercedes Ruehl for their efforts in this film as well.

This true life sad story is told well in the film; however, the director, Michael Cristofer, chose an almost cryptic style in which to tell the tragic story of Gia's life which, at times, detracts from the overall telling of the story. The score for the film does do well in what it's designed to do, augment the overall feel of the movie.

The Premise:

"Gia" is the overly tragic story of Gia Marie Carangi; a young and extremely beautiful woman from Philadelphia who suffered the break up of her parents at a young age and then in her late teens, a photographer stumbles upon her and not long thereafter the life of a supermodel overwhelms her. Incapable of dealing with separation of any form, she turns to drugs!

What follows from there is a heart wrenching and very telling true life tragedy of what happened to this beautiful young woman.

I would definitely recommend this HBO movie; one for the story itself and two for the exceptional performance by Angelina Jolie in this heartrending tale. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

-Cast & Crew Bios
-Photo Gallery

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous, dahling!
Review: Angelina Jolie is the Queen of all women. Her performance in Gia was breath-taking. She gave you a real sense of how the late Gia Carangi felt about wanting to be loved, and the constant fear of abandonment by her mother; we really felt that whenever Kathleen left NY, Gia really didnt know if she would return. The most touching relationship is between Jolie and Elizabeth Mitchell (Linda), her on-again off-again lover for 9 years. I wish the real Gia could have experienced the love portrayed in the movie with just that one special person....instead, she sought love in several different people. Elizabeth is fantastic, and although their pairing seems to be an odd one, I think that's what makes it work. The chemistry between Jolie and Mitchell was fantastic, and made for some endearing and hot scenes. The unrated version is great. I am now an AJ fan for life. She is a true professional, a true artist, and just oozes sensuality and sexuality.

Rating:
Summary: Hello, Baby
Review: Gia is a knockout, daring film. It tells the true story of the rise and fall of 80's supermodel Gia Carrangi. Many reviewers have said they never heard of Gia until the movie. In the cruel fashion world, Gia was forgotten as fast as she became famous. Not one person from the fashion industry attended her funeral. The man who wrote the book on which this film was based also coined the term 'fashionista' for his book. The word has since become a staple in the English language.

Angelina Jolie was made for this role; she deserved the awards and recognition she received for it. If this film had been made for theaters rather than HBO, she should have won an Oscar.

In Gia, Gia/Jolie is the sun, and all the other characters revolve around her. From her inauspicious beginnings in New York City to her photo shoots all over the world, Gia desperately seeks that which she was denied as a child - love. The tragedy is that once she finally finds love, Gia is so scarred emotionally and from drugs, that she is unable to accept it. Mercedes Ruel gives a masterful, subtle performance as Gia's self-centered mother who abandoned her daughter when she was 11.

The drugs, glamor, and glitz of the 80's fashion world are portrayed in both gritty and glamorous fashion. One of the most striking scenes is when Gia is dressed for a photo shoot as a geisha in a red dress. This scene is so riveting and well done I watched it a dozen times. She is standing in a gritty alley with red paper lanterns hanging over the concrete. The whole scene is surreal, and is a great portrayal of Gia's life and of the 80's.

Jolie keeps nothing inside for this performance. She is naked, both physically and emotionally. And the jazz soundtrack is captivating and mesmerizing. In fact, I am seeking to purchase just the soundtrack.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Movie of All Time
Review: Gia. One word says it all. Real life story of tragic supermodel is the best film i've ever seen. Beautifully written and directly with absolutely fabulous music and photo shoot montages not to mention the acting which is incredible. Gia's mother is wonderfully portrayed as a typically east-coast neurotic not all there mother. Lynda is played so realisticly i doubt that i can even consider any woman straight again. Every supporting actor on screen is wonderful. But of course the reason why this movie is so good is Angelina Jolie. An amazing actress in an amazing movie shines as bright as any star around. Carrying her role through the highs and lows of Gia which were so draining she EARNED her place in the hollywood elite. The story itself is an extremely remarble one drawing from real life, real people and the diary of the main character's namesake. A profoundly tragic flim which should not for those who cry easily. Don't rent this film if your in the mood for a feel good comedy! This is a film that requires a box of tissues!!! Simply my favorite film of all time.

Rating:
Summary: two terrific performances
Review: I am also a big fan of Angelina Jolie and try to see every film she is in. I am so glad that her career is really going like gangbusters. But I like Gia primarily because it introduced me to the incredible Elizabeth Mitchell. I agree with the other reviewers that Elizabeth was overlooked for her touching performance as Linda. I bought the unrated version in the hopes that more scenes featuring Elizabeth would be included. The interaction between Angelina and Elizabeth is what makes the movie interesting for me and is the reason I still watch the film. I do wish that the film had dealt more with their relationship, how they interacted on a daily basis, but I understand that the filmmakers had a lot of territory to cover. I would recommend the film for both these talented actresses performances. And for those of you interested in other projects that Elizabeth is featured in, check out the films Frequency, Molly and Nurse Betty.

Rating:
Summary: "A capturing performance by Angelina Jollie"
Review: If you are an Angelina Jolie fan, this may already be your all-time favorite AJ performance. If you are not an AJ fan yet, you will be after you see this amazing true story drama of Gia Marie Carangi. Gia grew up in Philadelphia, her parents had seperated when she was young which had left her looking for real love the rest of her life. She later met Wilhemina Cooper who became her modeling agent, and Gia's life took off from there. Gia also meets the woman of her dreams, and their romance throughout the movie was breathless and also slightly tear-jerking. Aside Angelina's powerful performance, she was well supported with great co-stars including Elizabeth Mitchell who played "Linda" Gia's love. It is a Romance that can never be forgotten. -This is a must see movie.

Rating:
Summary: Another extraordinary performance by Angelina Jolie
Review: In this intense and heartfelt film, Angelina Jolie captures the essence of the sad and turbulent spirit of Gia Marie Carangi, the fashion model who struggled with abandonment, fame and drug addiction. Elizabeth Mitchell is Linda, a character who represents several of Gia's relationships. She is an angelic "square" whose attempts to put Gia on the right track are constantly frustrated. Although the film takes some poetic license with this enduring love interest, it does provide us with an accurate glimpse of the kind of monogamous relationship Gia longed for but was unable to obtain. Faye Dunaway as Whilhelmina Cooper (Wilhelmina Models founder)and Mercedes Ruehl as Kathleen Sperr (Gia's mother) are wonderful. Ruehl has a complex character to portray. The movie will not win the modeling industry any new friends, and you'll think twice if you were planning on farming your daughter out to young miss fashion competitions. Angelina Jolie as Gia lets us learn from her mistakes and the movie leaves an indelible mark that cannot be airbrushed away.

Rating:
Summary: A very moving, absolutely gorgeous film
Review: Michael Cristofer couldn't have selected a more perfect actress to portray Gia Carangi than Angelina Jolie - Jolie's in-your-face attitude complements Carangi's bad-girl persona perfectly. Elizabeth Mitchell's portrayal of Linda is similarly excellent - the chemistry between the two women is phenomenal. Even apart from the casting, though, the movie is outstanding - aesthetically, it blows me away every time I see it (and only partly because Jolie is so beautiful.) The direction, the sound track, everything about this film is top-notch.

The story itself is touching, engaging, and heart-wrenching; watching the young Gia destroy her life with drugs, even choosing drugs over the love of her life, is a very emotional experience. I end up in tears every time I see the movie, and I enjoy it every time. Mercedes Ruehle does a great job as Gia's mom, expertly conveying the nuances of her own neuroses, and expressing her conflicting emotions regarding her troubled daughter.

I can't say enough good things about "Gia;" I really recommend it to Jolie fans, Carangi fans, or anyone who enjoys a good, tragic love story.