Just before fall break, I had an insane bout of some sort of cold which left me wanting to do little else but lay in my bed, consume warm liquids, and watch a good fall movie. While scrolling on TikTok and enjoying my chicken noodle soup, I came across a TikTok which referenced the film Practical Magic (1998).
With nothing better to do, I set up my laptop for from-my-bed viewing and navigated to Max, the streaming service that currently houses Practical Magic.Â
If you have never heard of the movie, Practical Magic is the story of the Owens sisters, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman), who are members of a long line of witches cursed in their pursuits of love. It has everything a sappy fall movie needs: gorgeous kitchens, stunning wardrobes, and great hair. It is a touching story of love and sisterhood.
If you’re not sold yet, here are some of my favorite aspects of the movie (without spoilers):
1. The visuals
Immediately, I was struck by the visuals of the film. The New England autumnal feeling of Practical Magic is very rich but not overly indulgent. Viewers aren’t going to be blown away by flashy CGI and effects like in newer witchy media like Disney’s Agatha All Along or even the Harry Potter franchise, but I think that that is to the film’s benefit. It makes sense that the magic used throughout the film is mostly represented by simple things like Sally’s tea stirring itself. When bigger acts of magic are performed, they include candles and herbs alongside chanting words from a dusty old tome rather than explosions and flashes of light. Besides the magic system and general aesthetic of the film, the actual setting is gorgeous and I spent a good chunk of the movie either in awe of the backyard of the house or happily thinking about its kitchen.
2. Sisterhood
Without spoiling the plot for those who still haven’t seen it (like me earlier this month) the sense of sisterhood within the film is so well-established and, in my opinion, true to life. From the midnight margaritas scene to Sally dropping everything to help Gillan with her Jimmy Angelov problem and Gillian securing Sally’s place at the top of the phone tree, the relationship between the Owens sisters in Practical Magic is so tangible and authentic. After watching, I called my own sister to chat because of how much the movie made me miss her. I think my favorite part about Practical Magic was that the movie’s plot extended beyond the romance. While sure, one of the central themes was love and relationships, the real focus of the movie was platonic relationships between women, something more often ostracized than celebrated.
3. Everything Sandra Bullock
Everything about the way Sandra Bullock is styled as Sally and brings the character to life was so enjoyable for me as a viewer. Throughout the film, I had such bad hair envy. Every single look was so insanely good and I will now be growing out my hair, buying a hair gloss, and trying to emulate the movie magic that is Sandra Bullock’s hair. I really enjoyed watching Bullock play the role of Sally and seeing how she breathed life into the character. Before this, I hadn’t seen many Sandra Bullock movies, save The Proposal (2009) with Ryan Reynolds, so it was an overall surprising and enjoyable experience.Â
If you believe, as some people do, that the holiday season starts once the clock strikes midnight on November 1st, I suggest cozying up with a hot drink and some snacks to soak in the fall vibes of Practical Magic this week!