Practical Magic (1998)

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

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Dec. 30

7:30 PM

ABCF

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:

The entire house was a specially built architectural shell that was torn down after filming. It was built on rented land, and even the blossoms on the trees are fake - made of silk.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sally is outside cutting down the rose bush, her jeans have dirt marks on the knees. When she goes inside to get her sister, her jeans are clean.

Quotes:

Sally Owens: [Sally's letter to Gillian] Sometimes I feel like there's a hole inside of me, an emptiness that at times seems to burn. I think if you lifted my heart to your ear, you could probably hear the ocean. The moon tonight, there's a circle around it. Sign of trouble not far behind. I have this dream of being whole. Of not going to sleep each night, wanting. But still sometimes, when the wind is warm or the crickets sing...

Movie Connections:

References Vertigo (1958)

Soundtrack:

Black Eyed Dog

In favor of this movie!

Reading the reviews of this movie is like being on a teeter-totter. One hates, the other loves, one hates... I LOVED THIS MOVIE.

Maybe it's because I come from a family of 6 sisters.... The bonding and care between the sisters and the Aunts, standing against the rest of the town's distrust and dislike shows family strength. When Sandra is weeping over her husband dying, I cried with her. I thought it was a fabulous moment for her in the movie.

If you want a movie about a woman getting revenge on an abusive husband, rent The Color Purple (ALSO a fave of mine) This movie was playful, at times slightly spooky... Hello? It's a Witch story... it should have SOME spooky stuff in it, and I don't feel the special effects were too over done.

As far as them inviting the women of the town in to help, I loved that whole sceen as well. The flash backs to the sisters as children and not wanting to let the other go... all of it. Each time that sceen pops into power mode, it makes me want to call every one of my sisters.

I haven't read the book, so I understand there might be some disappointment from those who HAVE read it. Movies rarely pack the punch of the written word they're based on. (Like EVERY King movie EVER put on film!)

But I adore Practical Magic. I saw it in the theater, and bought it as soon as I could.