I say it yearly: Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic is my muse — at the very least for the month of October. Magical, wild and impetuous with a foul behavior for dangerous males and a bangin’ haircut — what’s to not love about Gillian Owens? This is the factor about Practical Magic. I suppose the 1998 film has achieved cult-like standing due to the vibe and aesthetic of the characters (Sandra Bullock as Sally Owens and her earthy ’90s wardrobe!) and its setting (that multi-story home!) slightly than the precise plot as a result of the precise plot… sucks.
And I say that with quite a lot of love as a result of I love Practical Magic, and I all the time have because it premiered again when I was in highschool. At the time, I was 15 years outdated and just about a relentless buyer on the native occult retailer, dabbling in all types of cosmic issues, like astrology, tarot playing cards, and crystals — at a time when it definitely wasn’t cool in any respect to be fascinated by such witchy issues. Which is why Practical Magic was such an iconic film for me. Here had been two stunning and well-known actresses (Bullock and Kidman) making witchcraft appear not solely horny AF however, nicely, sensible. After all, it was very sensible to gentle candles with a single breath like Sally does, or develop into primary on the varsity’s telephone tree (which Gillian does for Sally), or develop herbs and concoct potions, together with the lethal belladonna. That’s what witches did, and did not all of us need to be witches after watching this film? Uh, sure.
So that is why I suppose we, which means principally millennials like myself, love Practical Magic. It provides us permission to embrace the “little witch inside of us” and daydream a few life that features sipping midnight margaritas and promoting costly do-it-yourself soaps and shampoos in a tiny minimal store that by some means pays the payments (together with the property tax of a really giant oceanside residence). All of the opposite stuff within the film is simply that — stuff.
A Little Refresher
Based on the 1995 novel of the identical identify by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic follows sisters Sally and Gillian Owens. Born right into a magical household, they’re raised by two eccentric aunts after the loss of life of their parents from a household curse. As adults, they find yourself having to name on their powers in sudden methods when certainly one of their lives hangs within the stability.
My Thoughts & Observations
Unsurprising Shocks
Sally and Gillian burying Gillian’s ex-boyfriend Jimmy (Goran Visnjic) within the yard after poisoning him with mentioned belladonna? That’s mildly attention-grabbing, however it actually does not pack a punch. I imply, you need him to die anyway, so there is not any big loss there. And you kinda know Sally and Gillian shall be all proper (they’re witches, proper?), so there’s not a ton of suspense both.
The Ghost of Boyfriends Past
When Jimmy comes again from the useless as an apparition, it is virtually laughable, particularly since he sort-of-kind-of resembles Bill Pullman in Casper. Re-watching it, I could not take that half severely. It was slightly bizarre.
Love Without Logic
Stranger nonetheless was Gillian being possessed by him. We did not actually get a full again story on how or why that occurred besides that, hey, they’re witches and issues like which are regular of their world? Then, there’s the love subplot involving Detective Hallet (Aidan Quinn) and Sally, which, truthfully, I do ship — however their relationship did appear rushed, even when they’re true soulmates.
In Conclusion, It’s Lackluster But Lovable
Overall, I suppose the film has a number of memorable scenes — just like the Owens girls dancing drunkenly to “Coconut,” Sally and Gillian sealing their bond with blood, and each second between Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing because the aunts. Having mentioned all of that, I do not suppose it holds collectively as a whole movie.
But that is OK! I do not suppose we watch Practical Magic for its cinematic prowess however slightly for its nostalgia (it has a killer ’90s soundtrack, too) and the chemistry of its stars, and, after all, the hope that our days may be stuffed with magic if we simply: “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.”
