Well, this confirms it. I'm gay.As beautiful I think Angelina Jolie is and as much of a girl-crush I have on her, seeing her nude in Gia was nothing to me. I think I even checked my phone during her gratuitous nude scenes. Rise/Fall movies are fairly common. Many of the "True Story" films are based on this and sometimes they're harder to watch than others. This one was tough, indeed, but not in the top ten, by a long-shot.Gia, according to these accounts, was given the world (of fashion) at the cost of basically nothing. Her strong attitude, wise-cracking one-liners and switchblade made her stand out from the shallow and brainless Barbie Dolls, but she quickly succumbed to drugs. And that takes up the majority of the "fall" part.Sure, it's hard to see someone so gifted with genuine beauty throw it all away for addiction. *I* know addiction. I know this is all true. So, yeah, I know how true something can rule your life until you got nothing.In the real life, Angelina was really just starting out here and she proved immediately how great she is. She's the star and most important part of this semi-documentary, semi-overdramatic TV movie. Mercifully, as she was at the "rise" part of the title character's plight, she didn't take the same destructive tendencies.Again, Rise/Fall films show the same sad adventures, but this film is still significate because of how absolutely gorgeous this woman was and how many wonderful chances she was bestowed and how one can literally destroy themselves inside and out.***Final thoughts: I'm sure people would watch this only for the girl-on-girl action and multiple female nude scenes. Hell, I'm not perfect and choose some films for the same reason, though they're men in those roles. But, there is so much more than just the free shows in the first half or so. Yeah, spoiler, if all you're interested in is a free show of breasts, you can stop about half-way through. The rest is the best message you can take from this.
... View MoreGia Marie Carangi (Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis) was born in 1960 Philadelphia and grew up in a broken home. Her mother (Mercedes Ruehl) left her combative relationship with her father. She's volatile and carries a switchblade. At 17, she meets top modeling agent Wilhelmina Cooper (Faye Dunaway). She moves to NYC with boyfriend T.J. but he goes back to Philly. She gets involved with straight-laced photo assistant Linda (Elizabeth Mitchell). She becomes a modeling star. However there is always a need in her that is eventually filled by drugs.This is simply Angelina Jolie in all her glory. She solidifies herself as the most compelling sexually-volatile actress around at the time. The story isn't much and it doesn't have much drama. The movie has a little style but it is tethered to its TV roots. It is a showcase for Jolie and not much more.
... View MoreFYI - Gia Carangi (Who!?... Never heard of her) was not (as this movie states) America's first "Supermodel".To be honest (until this depressing and annoyingly-bad movie came out), I had never, ever heard of Gia Carangi. But I'd certainly heard of Jerry Hall, Christie Brinkley, Cybill Shepherd, and Lauren Hutton, who were all recognized "Supermodels" long before this bimbo snorted her first line of cocaine.If this badly-conceived bio-movie was really supposed to be an accurate depiction of what Gia Carangi was actually like in real-life, then I'd say that she was, without a doubt, just pure white-trash, and an absolutely terrible role-model for lesbian-wannabes, as well.And if I am to take Angelina Jolie's grate-on-your-nerves portrayal of Gia at face value, then, let's face it, this high-strung crybaby was already seriously unhinged long before her downward spiral into the hell of drug addiction took place.And speaking about Angelina's f-n lousy performance as Gia - Jolie (wearing one awful-looking wig after another) was such an incompetent, scenery-chewing amateur throughout (pulling knives on people, etc.) that her character depiction made me hate Gia's guts.I also hated all of the women in Gia's life. This, of course, included her mother, Kathleen, her mentor, Wilhelmina Cooper, and especially her lesbian lover, Linda (this particular on/off relationship was nothing but a hideous, little soap opera of non-stop bitching & bickering).And, with that said - I am absolutely fed-up from hearing people heap praise and admiration upon Angelina Jolie for her performance as Gia. If you ask me, it was one of the most empty-headed, insincere, and unconvincing portrayals I've ever seen.And I swear that I'll never, ever again watch another movie that stars the likes of Angelina Jolie. Never! (Bah! Who needs her?)
... View MoreA girl from a broken home becomes a top fashion model in the industry only to turn to drugs with a fatal ending. How many times have we heard this theme before, despite the fact that this film is based on a true story.Angelina Jolie gives a good performance as the conflicted top-model, but the script itself is what does this film in. Told by friends and her mother, they immediately speak of Gia in the past tense so you have an idea where this film is going.Involved in a lesbian relationship when she is older as well as a love-hate relationship with her mother, played nicely by Mercedes Ruehl, Jolie stars as the tormented beauty whose face captured the model industry, but whose tragic short life was a total bust.Faye Dunaway briefly appears as the person who gave Gia her start only to die suddenly herself.
... View More