Gia (Unrated Edition)

Excellent movie

Awesome true story of GIA . Amazing movie. Highly recommended

This is it folks - a genuine "breakout performance". We don't get them often enough so we should pay attention when we do. WARNING ::: This review reveals some plot points ! "Gia", a film for HBO, stars Angelina Jolie, Faye Dunaway, Elizabeth Mitchell and Mercedes Ruehl. This film is the life-story of Gia Carangi, one of the first "supermodels". How big a star/model was Gia? Well, Cindy Crawford was dubbed the "young Gia" and the "next Gia" - that's how famous she was. Unfortunately, besides being the "face" of the day in the modelling world, she was also fairly famous for her drug addiction and ultimate fall from grace. If you want a more indepth depiction of Gia's life - there are a couple of books available. The best being "Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia". Back to the film. Angelina Jolie BECOMES Gia in every sense of the word. Her performance is one of the best portrayals of real people in years. She is completely and utter believable. She captures what is surely the essense of Gia. She brings a desparate wanting to the character that you can feel. Elizabeth Mitchell ( recently of "ER" fame ) co-stars and really provides an excellent touch-stone for Gia's tortured existance. There's nothing pretty about this film - it shows the whole story, the drugs, the parties, the sex, the pain and the suffering. It depicts, with little filter, the USING of Gia and her decent into her fate. It's no surprise that Angelina won a Golden Globe for this amazing performance. It's no surprise that she was nominated for an Emmy either. You're not able to take your eyes off her. As a matter of fact, this is a much awarded film - including a best actress award for Angelina Jolie at the LA Outfest. Faye Dunaway is mainly here for star power - almost as if they weren't sure Angelina Jolie could pull it off. She's okay here, but we all know that Faye has done some amazing work and here, she sort of phones it in. Mercedes Ruehl plays Gia's mother and she does a good job. She's a little over the top but you suspect it's an accurate portrayal. For the Angelina Jolie fan - it's a MUST SEE, MUST OWN film. For others, it really is worth the time and money. You don't often get a chance to see a young star make an amazing film like this. You'll see small tales of "Lisa" from her Academy Award winning performance in "Girl, Interupted" in Gia, but mostly you'll see an INCREDIBLE performance by Angelina Jolie. Really remarkable. FYI : There is an UNRATED version available on VHS that is currently not available on DVD. The UNRATED version contains more explict scenes ( specifically the shower sequence is longer ). In all, a great film. Well written, directed and acted. A real gem. Thank you HBO. All The Best, turtlex

Gia is a powerful, emotionally raw biographical drama that delves into the rise and fall of Gia Carangi, one of the first true supermodels. Angelina Jolie delivers a mesmerizing performance, embodying Gia’s charm, vulnerability, and reckless intensity as she navigates fame, addiction, and heartbreak. Pros: ✅ Angelina Jolie’s Captivating Performance: She fully immerses herself in the role, making Gia’s journey feel authentic and heartbreaking. ✅ Unflinching Realism: The film doesn’t shy away from dark themes, portraying drug addiction, self-destruction, and the cost of fame with brutal honesty. ✅ Strong Supporting Cast: Faye Dunaway, Mercedes Ruehl, and Elizabeth Mitchell provide grounded, emotional performances that enhance the story. ✅ Visually Stunning: The glamour of the fashion world contrasts sharply with Gia’s personal struggles, creating a striking visual narrative. Cons: ⚠ Heavy Themes: The film is intense, dealing with substance abuse, toxic relationships, and loss, which might feel emotionally overwhelming. ⚠ Fast-Paced Storytelling: Gia’s rapid descent into addiction moves quickly, leaving little room for deeper exploration of certain moments. ⚠ Unrated Edition’s Graphic Nature: Some scenes are uncensored, making it a harder watch for sensitive viewers. For those drawn to gritty, tragic biographies, Gia is a must-watch, offering a deeply moving portrayal of a woman consumed by fame, addiction, and the search for love.

What a tragedy. Here is a woman that had it all. She could have been a lasting star in the industry had it not been for drugs and a hard partying lifestyle. Angelina Jolie's portrayal of Gia Carrangi was absolutely incredible! She is an actress of a lifetime! I liked the HBO production but I felt some of the scenes may have been a bit contrived. For instance, was Gia beaten up in a dark alleyway as portrayed in the film or was that scene fictitious as the disclaimer at the end of the movie said? Did her Father and one brother come to visit her in hospital or was that made up. I'm certain her Mom came to see her but what about all the others. A friend of mine said to me via text: "What era are you living in, Gia is a cult classic!" Unfortunately I never saw the film until yesterday morning. That being said, I certainly did enjoy the film even though I knew the outcome from history. I'm too young to remember her as a model but I do know the situation. A rising star turns to drugs and alcohol (Billie Holiday) and then squanders her money and her talent until she ends up either in the gutter or back where she came from. It's very sad and a staple of Hollywood and sports and fashion industry. Many people are broken by it. I highly recommend this DVD. I'm the 1021st to review it and the 130th to rate it Four Stars. A. Nathaniel Wallace, Jr.

SUCH A GOOD MOVIE!!! This gem is so so good! Angelina's performance is so good! I love when women who actually love women play lesbians because they encaptures the realness of it. The story is so raw and I LOVE knowing that the first super model was a LESBIAN! I like everything about this movie and how it does not glorify drugs like other movies do. A MUST WATCH FOR WLW

It was ok. Drugs destroyed her. Tragic ending.

Kudos to a clever script, smart direction and the magnificent performances of Angelina Jolie, Mercedes Ruehl and Elizabeth Mitchell. Sometimes some of the best movies are the ones that never make it to theaters. HBO has a history of recognized original films, and this is one that I would definetely recommend to anyone who has a fascination with the world of modeling and show business. Jolie, who is quite a character herself, creates an accurate and stunning portrayal of the model who burned out as quickly as she rose to fame in the ever-evolving world of fashion and modeling. Spiraling downwards into a world of drugs, sex and violence, Carangi lived hard and died young, her face forever immortalized by the lens that first discovered her raw and intriguing appeal. No doubt about it, she is an unforgettable icon in the industry, such as the scene indicates where she rudely carves her name into the receptionist's counter at the modeling agency who immediately takes her under their wing and turns her from a feisty and fearless teenager into a seductive and ethereal glamour goddess. Now this was a performance well-warranted of recognition and the Golden Globes knew that, thus presenting Jolie with its high honors as Best Actress. Mercedes Ruehl was the perfect narrator for the story, Gia's forlorn and almost flaky mother, boning up her daughter's legacy with childhood memories and the typical endearments only mothers could enjoy. Then there's the wonderful supporting role of Linda, Gia's on-again off-again girlfriend, who is played with wonderful restraint by Elizabeth Williams. The only character with enough sense to try to get miles away from Gia's destructive behavior and crumbling sense of self-worth. She tries relentlessly to lead Gia astray from her powerful addictions (promiscuity, heroin, etc.), but loses her fight each time. Her love is honest and deep, but her will to stay sane is even stronger, and she eventually walks away later on. Not to mention with a man, which Gia takes offense to and fuels her fire for her deep-rooted depression and her escape into the euphoria of intravenous drugs, which ultimately becomes her demise. It's a sad story to tell, but nevertheless it's told well, and although you won't be smiling when it's over, you'll be very much impressed by the acting and the directing. Five stars it is, and this definetely won't be a waste of money to the person who chooses to buy, lest they aren't convinced by my gushing review!