Written by Robin Swicord And Akiva Goldsman And Adam Brooks
Directed by Griffin Dunne
Sally Owens: "I dream of a love that even time will lie down and be still for."
With an unexpected sequel currently filming, it was time to go back and watch this movie. I watched it once in my teens but never felt compelled to watch again. Then they announced a sequel, so I'm watching this again.
The movie opened in the past with Maria Owens (Caprice Benedetti) surviving the locals trying to kill her for being a witch. Dealing with heartbreak, Maria also cast a spell never to fall in love again. That spell had it's own consequences such as dooming any man that would fall in love with an Owens woman.
Cut to more recent times and you've got sister duo, Sally (Sandra Bullock/Camilla Belle) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman/Lora Anne Criswell). Their parents are killed and they go live with their eccentric aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Bridget Owens (Dianne Wiest). How Sally and Gillian would differ with magic certainly made things interesting.
Sally's use of magic had get a husband named (Mark Feuerstein) and two daughters, Kylie (Evan Rachel Wood) and Antonia (Alexandra Artrip). However the family curse struck, Michael died and Sally swore off magic for good. That didn't stop the locals from gossiping about the Owens family.
As for Gillian, she lived a lot more recklessly with her magic. Her choice in romantic partners was diabolical. Gillian's current boyfriend, James Angelov (Goran Visnjic) was not only physically abusive towards Gillian but he was also a serial killer. Jimmy ended up being killed twice by Gillian and Sally and then found a way to control over Gillian's body.
In between sisterly conflict, body possession and a detective named Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn), we did have a community bonding together in order to flush out a very dangerous man. This movie wore it's feminist themes on its sleeves but it worked during that third act team up.
- Griffin Dunne revealed that the studio stopped the film from being much darker than intended. The drunk scene was real thanks to Nicole Kidman.
- This movie wasn't a financial hit but it has drawn a cult audience and the sequel will come out next year.
- Standout music: Faith Hill's This Kiss, Harry Nilsson's Coconut and Stevie Nicks Crystal.
- Chronology: 1600s and the 1990s in a small Massachusetts town.
While Practical Magic doesn't quite hit the heights of other witch themed movies for me, it's a fairly enjoyable one nonetheless. I think Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman elevate it a bit.
Rating: 7 out of 10
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