PRACTICAL MAGIC
US, 1998, 104 minutes, Colour.
Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Aidan Quinn, Stockard Channing, Diane Wiest.
Directed by Griffin Dunne.
Which witch...? Back in 17th century Massachusetts they used to hang witches (but in this movie's prologue, she exercises magic and escapes only to curse any man loved by her descendants). Two eccentrically entertaining maiden witch aunts (Stockard Channing and Diane Wiest) bring up their orphaned nieces. One wants to live a wild life (Nicole Kidman). The other wants to live a perfect and perfectly ordinary life (Sandra Bullock). It all comes to a head when they have to bury a body in the garden (Nicole's violent boyfriend) and a nice detective (Aidan Quinn) comes from Arizona to investigate.
An easy blend of nice romance with a bit of daring, of special effects magic with a bit of comedy. No more than an undemanding night out.
1.Entertainment value of the film? The stars, romance, the touch of magic? Elements of the '90s?
2.The title, its focus, the sisters, the aunts? Adaptation from the novel?
3.The prologue and the 17th century? The American history of witchcraft in Massachusetts? The Puritans, their attitudes, greed, suspicion of sexuality, hypocrisy?
4.The locations, the American coast, the home, the town? The contrast with Arizona? The use of songs throughout the film? The atmospheric score, especially for the witchcraft and the drama?
5.The blend of fantasy and realism? The creation of fantasy, the use of special effects? The atmosphere of the town, 'normal' behaviour and a sense of realism?
6.Aunt Frances telling the story from the 17th century? Her tone, information, attitude? The ancestor and her hanging, the magical escape, the people fleeing? Her going to the island, her lover never coming? The curse and its lasting for 300 years?
7.The history of the women, the death of the men who truly loved them? Sally's and Jillian's mother and her death? The glimpses of the family at the seaside? Her death? Their arrival at the aunt's house? At home, the bond with the aunts, learning the spells? Sally's spell for an ideal man - with the blue and the green eye? Thinking it impossible? Jillian and her not being so successful, scatty? The taunts of the children passing the house? The bonds between the two sisters?
8.The aunts, their age and experience, their clothes, their spells? The house, the housekeeping? Humour? The townspeople scorning them and their reaction? Putting curses on people - the people turning away from them in the streets?
9.The girls grown up, wanting normal lives? Sally and her being dowdy, reacting against the witchcraft? Jillian and her carrying on with men, wanting sex and excitement? The blood bond? The decision of each one for their future?
10.The aunts and their reaction, the spells? The spell on Mike, his work, running to meet Sally, her going to meet him? Falling in love, the wedding, the children, the joys of the normal household, the dance in the house ...? Sally being accepted in the town, the plans to open the shop? The beetle and the significance of the spells? Her tearing up the floorboards to save Mike? The cyclists in the street, his escaping them, death by the truck? The aunts and their grief? Sally and her desperation, wanting to revive Mike - but conceding that he would not come back as himself? Her experience of happiness and normality? Her girls?
11.The contrast with Jillian, travelling, the men, the dancing, the postcards? The succession of men dying? Jimmy and her seduction, the sexual relationship, the violence? Sally and her letter and her outpouring of her heart? Jillian ringing and Sally going to rescue her? The belladonna, controlling Jimmy? The violence, bashing his head, the decision to take him home and bury him? The mysterious rose bush coming from the grave? The protruding shoes? His surviving?
12.Jimmy and his Bulgarian background, the overtones of vampires? His adopting of the American ideals, the Westons and Louis L'Amour? His violence, dominating of Jillian? Death, buried, his vengeance? Taking possession of Jillian? His coming out of her alive? The portrait of the Living Dead and his viciousness? The sisters and getting the women of the town to destroy him?
13.Sally, her grief, her wanting to help Jillian? The shop, the kids and their spells? The disappearance of the aunts? The helpers in the shop, her being on the school roster? (And Jillian altering the names on the tree?)
14.Gary, coming to investigate Jimmy's disappearance, the interrogation of Sally? The truth about the letter? Her telling lies, Jillian and the cover-up? His being attracted to Sally? Questions, her following him and telling him the truth? The appearance of Jimmy and his reaction? His leaving - and his return and love for Sally?
15.Jillian and her character, flighty? Her desperation about Jimmy? At the shop, altering the school tree? The decision to call a coven? Gathering the women from the town, the phone calls, their reactions? The bonding, the success of the exorcism?
16.The aunts and their return? The night of drinking Margaritas with the two aunts and the two nieces? The 'hens night'? The bonding between the women?
17.The ending, the three generations on the roof, stepping out into the void? Halloween?
18.A portrait of two sisters - each side different but complementary?
19.The '90s and superstitions, magical powers? Credible or not?
