Practical Magic is a 1998 film that explores the lives of two sisters, Sally and Gillian Owens, who come from a long line of witches. Throughout the movie, the concept of love and magic intertwine as they navigate through their relationships and personal journeys. One of the main themes of Practical Magic is the idea of wishing for love. Both Sally and Gillian long for a deep and meaningful connection with a partner, but they have different experiences with love. Sally is skeptical of love, having witnessed the curse that seems to haunt the women in their family. On the other hand, Gillian is more impulsive and seeks out passionate romances without considering the potential consequences.
Gary Hallet : Curses only have power when you believe them. And I don't. [walks away, pauses then turns to Sally] Gary Hallet : You know what? I wished for you too.
The sisters spend several years apart Sally marries and has two children Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip with a man Mark Feuerstein whose demise arrives as predicted, and Gillian gets entangled with her abusive boyfriend, Jimmy Goran Visnjic. But when Gillian s vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov Goran Visnjic , dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic.
On the other hand, Gillian is more impulsive and seeks out passionate romances without considering the potential consequences. As the story progresses, we see the sisters face the challenges of love. Sally falls for a man named Michael, but she struggles to fully embrace her feelings due to her fears of the curse and losing control.
How Practical Magic Pissed Off a Real-Life Witch
Twenty-five years later, the film’s director talks that famous midnight-margaritas scene—“Everybody got shit-faced”—and the magic consultant who threatened to sue Warner Bros. over the production: “They said, ‘Fuck this,’ and wrote her a check.”
October 6, 2023 Courtesy of Everett Collection. Save this story Save this storyPractical Magic, a heady blend of ’90s romantic comedy, domestic violence horror, and supernatural trickery, is perhaps best encapsulated by a single moment: “You have the worst taste in men,” Sandra Bullock’s Sally groans as she helps her sister, Gillian (Nicole Kidman), bury the evil ex they’ve killed in the backyard of their magical mansion.
Twenty-five years after the film’s release, its synopsis remains spellbindingly dense. Bullock and Kidman play sisters bound by a curse that befalls any man who falls in love with a woman in their family. After their father perishes and their mother dies of a broken heart, the sisters are raised in an enviable cliffside estate by their wonderfully wicked aunts (Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, in roles originally envisioned for Vanessa Redgrave and Julie Christie). Sally vows to never fall in love, while Gillian flings herself toward romance.
The sisters spend several years apart—Sally marries and has two children (Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip) with a man (Mark Feuerstein) whose demise arrives as predicted, and Gillian gets entangled with her abusive boyfriend, Jimmy (Goran Visnjic). The pair kill Jimmy after he attempts to kidnap them, but his spirit lingers, requiring a full-on exorcism. Oh, and things are further complicated by the investigation into Jimmy’s murder by Aidan Quinn’s Gary Hallet, whom Sally discovers she’s falling in love with.
Suffice it to say, the movie is a lot. “I remember Bob Daly, who was co-CEO of Warner Brothers—at our premiere, he sat one row in front [of me],” the film’s director, Griffin Dunne, tells Vanity Fair. “After a very lighthearted scene with girls giggling and being hilarious, [we were] having them dig up a body from a rose bush and stick needles in its eyes. He turned to the person next to him and went, ‘I wish the kid would just pick a tone.’”
Critics tended to agree. Despite opening at number one, the film, adapted from Alice Hoffman’s 1995 novel with a screenplay by Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, and Adam Brooks, was deemed “too scary for children and too childish for adults,” by the likes of Roger Ebert. Entertainment Weekly called it “a witch comedy so slapdash, plodding, and muddled it seems to have had a hex put on it.”
Dunne, son of longtime VF contributor Dominick Dunne and an actor best known for 1985’s After Hours, never helmed another studio film. But in the decades since its release, Practical Magic has morphed into a cult classic, beloved particularly by women for its enviable soundtrack (Faith Hill’s “This Kiss”! Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You,”! Two original Stevie Nicks tracks!) and themes of sisterhood. “Dealing with several different tones in the same film is not that unusual anymore,” says Dunne. “When I did American Werewolf in London, it was the same reaction. People were really upset that there were laughs in a horror movie. Now you can’t make a horror movie without getting laughs.”
Fervor around the film gets particularly heightened around Halloween, Dunne says. “A little name-drop here, just two nights ago I was in my local restaurant in the Hudson Valley. Paul Rudd is one of my neighbors, and he came over and said, ‘My son’s girlfriend is obsessed with the movie. Can I bring her over? She wants to just talk to you about it.’ She joined our table and asked me the same questions you’re asking—just devoured every tiny detail about it. That was enormously satisfying.”
No one knows you like a person with whom you've shared a childhood. No one will ever understand you in quite the same way .
Gillian, on the other hand, becomes entangled with a dangerous and abusive partner named Jimmy, highlighting the importance of choosing love wisely. Throughout the film, magic acts as a symbol for both the power and vulnerability of love. The Owens women use spells and potions to attract or manipulate love, but they eventually learn that true love cannot be forced or controlled. Instead, it is something that happens naturally and requires vulnerability and trust. Practical Magic also explores the bond between sisters and the strength that comes from supporting one another. Despite their differences, Sally and Gillian ultimately come together to protect each other and break the cycle of the curse. This emphasizes the importance of family and the power of love to overcome adversity. In conclusion, Practical Magic delves into the complexities of love and the role of magic in people's lives. It teaches us that love cannot be controlled or manipulated, but rather embraced and nurtured. The film reminds us of the significance of family and the importance of supporting one another in the journey of love..
Reviews for "Creating Sacred Spaces: Practical Magic for the Home"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars
I was really disappointed with "Practical Magic I wished for you too". I was a big fan of the original "Practical Magic" and was excited to see a sequel. However, this book fell flat for me. The plot was thin and predictable, lacking the charm and magic of the first book. The characters felt one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, it felt like the author was trying too hard to recreate the magic of the original but failed miserably.
2. John - 2/5 stars
I had high expectations for "Practical Magic I wished for you too" as I loved the first book and the movie adaptation. Unfortunately, this sequel didn't live up to the hype. The pacing was slow and the story felt repetitive. The writing lacked the beautiful prose and enchanting atmosphere of the original. I found myself skimming through pages just to get to the end. It was a disappointing read and I wouldn't recommend it to fans of the first book.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars
I was really looking forward to reading "Practical Magic I wished for you too", but it didn't live up to my expectations. The characters felt underdeveloped and the plot was predictable. The romance felt forced and didn't have the same spark as the love story in the first book. Overall, it felt like a rushed and unnecessary sequel. I wanted to love it, but it fell flat for me.