Witches aren’t always green with moles covering their faces. Some of the best cinematic witches look like regular people, like Sabrina Spellman (“Sabrina the Teenage Witch”), the Halliwell sisters (“Charmed”), and Bonnie Bennett (“Vampire Diaries”). But for me, there’s one film that outshines the rest when it comes to witches, “Practical Magic.”
The film’s masterminds include director Griffin Dunne and producer Denise Di Novi, who based the film on the book “Practical Magic” by Alice Hoffman. Starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest, “Practical Magic” tells the story of two witch sisters, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) Owens, and their trials of finding and losing love. The film opens with Maria Owens, an ancestor of Sally and Gillian, escaping execution for witchcraft in Massachusetts. Salem witch trials, anyone? Maria is then exiled to live on an island (later known as Maria’s Island), where she realizes she’s pregnant and waits for her lover to come and rescue her. He never came (typical men, am I right?), so in a fit of agony and heartbreak, Maria casts a spell on herself to never fall in love again. Little did she know that spell would manifest into future generations of Owens women cursing any man who falls in love with them to die.
Sally and Gillian’s mother died of a broken heart after she heard the “death watch beetle” ticking for her husband’s death. This sadly left the sisters as orphans who went to live with their Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing) and Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest), who are fully immersed and practiced in “the craft.” As Aunt Jet says, “And this is what comes from dabbling; I mean you can’t practice witchcraft while you look down your nose at it.” The Aunts raised the girls to be strong and confident in their abilities, but the looming family curse hangs over the girl’s heads like a dark cloud. Young Sally casts her own spell, a love spell, for a man who could not possibly exist because of her outlandish details, like being able to ride a pony backward, flip pancakes in the air, and have one green eye and one blue.
Unlike her sister Gillian, who says, “I can’t wait to fall in love,” Sally wants to protect her heart at all costs. The two sisters grow up as complete opposites: Gillian, the daredevil, badass sister, and Sally, tame and striving for normalcy after the death of her husband and father of her two girls. Throughout the movie, you see the dynamic between the two sisters, who feel their bond and connection to one another no matter where they are in the world.
So when Gillian winds up in trouble, who better to come to the rescue than her sister?
Gillian gets roped up with mysterious bad boy Jimmy Angelov (Goran Visnjic), a heavy drinker and partier. His violent and obsessive personality when drinking leads to him becoming abusive towards Gillian. A chilling car ride of “Always on My Mind” by Elvis Presley and drugging the violent boyfriend, lead to his death in the back of the car. And what do the sisters do, you may ask? Try to bring Angelov back from the dead. Along the way, they are questioned by a private investigator, Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn), who has a strong attraction and pull towards Sally. Sally feels that pull, too, especially after noticing certain characteristics that can’t be ignored, like how he has one green eye and one blue.
Without revealing more about the film’s plot you can expect witty humor, heartfelt moments, sisterly bonds, and, most importantly, witchcraft. Oh, and a dance scene to “Coconut” by Harry Nilsson, which I highly encourage everyone to recreate with their friends.
One thing I do want to mention is my favorite thing about this film: the soundtrack. The soundtrack is not only beautifully compiled but features some huge names in music. And one thing I appreciate is a soundtrack that enhances the plot and adds to the film. The songs aren’t there to fill any background silence, they have specific purposes throughout. The legend herself, Stevie Nicks, has two songs on the album, “If You Ever Did Believe” and “Crystal.” “Crystal” was originally a Fleetwood Mac song sung by Lindsey Buckingham and written by Nicks. The “Practical Magic” version is sung entirely by Nicks with backing vocals by Sheryl Crow, giving it an unearthly sound as if you’re being driven like a magnet to the sea.
Other songs on the album are “Got to Give It Up, Part 2” by Marvin Gaye, “Is This Real” by Lisahall, “Nowhere and Everywhere” by Michelle Lewis, and “A Case of You” by the one and only, Joni Mitchell. The classic country hit “This Kiss” by Faith Hill is also featured during one of the most romantic scenes. The film also has original instrumental songs, “Practical Magic” and “Amas Veritas” by Alan Silvestri.
This film is a Halloween fall classic and a must-watch for movie lovers. It’s not a scary thriller that’ll leave you shaking in your boots. And it’s not completely PG, but it’s a film you’ll never forget and one you’ll watch year after year. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from Sally Owens, “There are some things I know for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.”
