Though these favorites ( books, movies,cities to visit,…) are not written in any particular order of likeness, this title was not the first that crossed my mind. However, I did think it was appropriate to make it part one because of the plot (characters being witches, spells, potions and final scene happening on Halloween ) and the fact this year is it’s 25th anniversary.
If you prefer to read over watching movies Practical Magic is a beautiful read. I originally picked it up simply cause I liked the cover and the title. The more I read the more enchanted I got. Believing in little magic never hurt anyone. As I was thinking how this could be beautifully be made in a movie , not even a year after I read it a movie came out. At first I wasn’t sure weather to watch it, because you have your imagination while you read and the director has it’s own and sometimes it can be disappointing to watch someone else’s vision. But then I saw the poster for it with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman looking better than I have imagined the characters to be. Curiosity got the best of me and sure enough I went to see the movie.
Before writing this post I rewatched it, because even though I have seen it a couple of times over the years, I wanted to make sure I remember things fresh and correctly. If you watch it just for the cast it’s worth a watch. I love everyone from the main cast to those who had small, but meaningful appearances, like one of my all time favorites: Margo Martindale. And then there was the character of Jimmy Angelov, played by no other than paesano Goran Višnjić. He played Gillian’s lover. Originally from Bulgaria, abusive alcoholic with his Dracula/ Cowboy thing. Talk about bad boy!
The plot of the book and movie is set in a small Massachusetts town where the Owens family have been regarded with suspicion for over three centuries due to their ancestor Maria Owens, who survived an attempted execution for witchcraft. Maria cast a spell to prevent herself from ever falling in love again after being abandoned by her lover whose baby she was expecting. The spell developed into a curse upon Maria’s descendants, dooming any man an Owens woman loves. In the present, Sally and Gillian Owens are taken in by their aunts Frances and Jet after both their parents succumb to the Owens curse. Two sisters couldn’t be more opposite in looks and personalities, but their bond transcended shallow things people can see without knowing them. They witnessed how love can drive people ( mostly women who would come to their aunts as a last resort to get ‘the man of their dreams and desires’) crazy so while Gillian couldn’t wait to fall in love ( as many times as possible) little Sally came up with ‘True Love Spell’ in spirit of never falling in love and dying of a broken heart like their mother. Even for the witches who cast spells,not everything goes as planned. Sally falls for a nice and kind man with whom she had two beautiful girls, only to lose him to what she believes is a curse. Gillian on the other hand spends a good decade or so falling in love with different man and living it up. Up to the moment she meets mysterious Johnny. That’s when the plot thickens. Not to give everything away, I’ll stop myself here with details of the book as well as the movie, so you got just enough information to get you to pick up the book or watch a movie.
However I will say: no matter what age you are, this is a great Halloween movie if you’re like me and want to enjoy the spirit without getting scared ( and have already seen Hocus Pocus ever very year and are looking for something in that lane but a bit different). Also for Gen Z who are into 90s fashion, you might find quite a few outfits that can totally be in right now. As I was watching I kept thinking: yes, definitely wore most of those outfits, accessories and would wear it again now. Another thing about this movie is a beautiful picture of sisterhood, both blood related and the chosen one. It was moving watching all those women who throughout the years had love/ hate relationship with each other come together when one of them needed them. Last but not least: I love the soundtrack of this movie. The songs were in my opinion matching the plot perfectly. From Faith Hill, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks to Elvis Presley’s ‘Always on my mind’ that took me personally to a place in time with a boy so wrong for me I couldn’t stay away. He used to sing it to me in a dark club, just before closing and it almost fell like a spell I couldn’t get out of. And obviously the best known song related to the movie and partying with ‘Midnight Margaritas’ by Harry Nilsson when you put lime in the coconut.
Hope you had wonderful Halloween season and check out this sweet movie with your friends or family or both!
*** ‘Coconut’ by Harry Nilsson