Practical Magic (1998)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Griffin Dunne

Writers (WGA):

Alice Hoffman (based on the novel by)
Robin Swicord (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

There's a little witch in every woman.

Plot:

Sally and Gillian Owens have always known they were different. Raised by their aunts after their parents' death...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Curse | Sister | Magic | Family Curse

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Sandra Bullock	...	Sally Owens
Nicole Kidman	...	Gillian Owens
Stockard Channing	...	Aunt Frances 'Fran' Owens
Dianne Wiest	...	Aunt Bridget 'Jet' Owens
Goran Visnjic	...	Jimmy Angelov
Aidan Quinn	...	Officer Gary Hallet
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Kylie Owens
Alexandra Artrip	...	Antonia Owens
Mark Feuerstein	...	Michael
Caprice Benedetti	...	Maria Owens
Annabella Price	...	Lovelorn Lady
Camilla Belle	...	Sally Owens @ Age 11
Lora Anne Criswell	...	Gillian Owens @ Age 10
Margo Martindale	...	Linda Bennett
Chloe Webb	...	Carla

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence, intense thematic elements and sensuality.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Canada:PA (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (f) (w) | Hungary:14 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA

Company:

DiNovi Pictures

Trivia:

When asked why actresses Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman were to play sisters when they obviously looked nothing alike, director Griffin Dunne stated that when he researched historical witches that often times witch siblings typically looked nothing alike. Thus it made sense that the two were cast as sisters. However, when he was casting Griffin did made sure the two actresses who played Sandra's daughters had features similar to each of the two main stars.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Sally is drawing the star on Jimmy's chest you can see the outline of the star in black before she covers it with whipped cream. This is not actually a goof, as Sally tells Gillian to "get something white to write on top of the star". Obviously one of them drew the star first as a guide.

Quotes:

Frances Owens: She heard the beetle ticking for your father's death all day long. She knew that when you hear the sound of the deathwatch beetle the man you love is doomed to die.

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Soundtrack:

Crystal

A Wonderfully fun movie

This movie is one of my favorites - I love watching it.

I have to agree with the remarks by AshIsTheGal and Warlen. Nicole Kidman had never been one of my favorite actress either, but I loved her in this movie (as I did Sandra Bullock). The real standouts though were Stockard Channing and Diane Wiest - watching them perform was almost worth the price of admission itself! They are wonderful.

I don't see this movie as being about magic or witchcraft, the romance between Sally and Gary Hallet or even Jimmy Angelov chasing Gillian (which is a huge catalyst - but not really any more than that). For me, this movie is really about the relationships between sisters and women (the Aunts Franny and Jet, Kylie and Antonia, the Owens' women and the townswomen and of course, between Sally and Gillian - both young and adult).

All of the actresses had a great chemistry, but I couldn't believe how well matched Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman were. I felt that their bond was very believable and I loved watching their relationship to each other (and themselves) grow and mature as they went from being children to adults.

I certainly don't think that this film will appeal to everybody, and I can see why so many people "don't get it", but if you watch it more for the relationships between the women and not so much for the romance angle or the magic I think that you will really enjoy this movie. I thought that the romance and magic were handled very well, I just saw them as being secondary to the real story. Also - it has a wonderful soundtrack.

I read the book after seeing the movie, and while there are many changes between the two, I really enjoyed both. I thought that the changes made to the movie made for a better movie overall.

All in all, a very enjoyable movie. I highly recommend it.