Practical Magic. It'll put a spell on you!

Practical Magic is the 1998 adaptation from the book by Alice Hoffman. Griffin Dunne directs.

The Owens family are witches. From the time of the puritans, and the unsuccessful hanging of Maria, all Owens' women have been blessed and cursed; they are blessed with magic, and cursed that any man they love will die.

The current generation are Sally and Gillian, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Their mother died of a broken heart shortly after their father's (inevitable) death. The generation above them are Aunt Jet (Diane Wiess) and Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing.) In the course of the movie Sally has two daughters, Kylie (Evan Rachel Wood) and Antonia (played by the remarkably good Alexandra Atrip.)

As children, Sally (played by Camilla Belle) was terrified of falling in love, and loosing him to the curse, Gillian (played by Lora Anne Criswell), of a different bolt of cloth, couldn't wait to fall in love. To protect herself Sally cast a love spell with such impossible parameters that no one could fill it. Little Sally lacked wisdom in the ways of magic, and of love. Both are elemental forces, and both will find a way.

Growing up as witches in a small town means that the family was isolated, and the sisters grew incredibly close. You and me against the world tends to build strong bonds.

But eventually, Gillian left the nest, flew the coop, and Sally was left on her own. For awhile.

Frances and Jet did what they do; they meddled. They cast a love spell, and Sally met Michael, and Kylie and Antonia came along in due time, and for awhile, they were marvelously happy.

But magic is implacable, and nothing more so than a curse. When Sally heard the Deathwatch Beetle, she knew that it meant the man she loved was doomed to die.

Widowed, she moved back in with the Aunts, and turned her back on magic. "And as for you two, my children will never do magic." But magic never turned its back on her.

Gillian, who had her own brand of magic, found herself in a codependant, dangerous relationship. And when it got violent, she called on her sister for help. Jimmy Angelo (played by the incredibly sexy Goran Visnjic) however was a bit more than either sister bargained for.

The sisters did not respect the power they possessed, and they payed some heavy prices. Their path took them through a murder, (two, actually) a vengeful spirit, a relentless detective, Gary Hallet, (played by the excellent Aiden Quinn)determined to find Jimmy Angelo, and what happened to him, and the unstoppable powers of love, sisterhood, and magic.

This is not an action flick. There is some action, but even the murders are not gory or explosive. This is not a romance, though the romance that grows is as sweet as the first rosebud of May. It is not a comedy, though there are some terribly funny bits, ("Since when has it been a crime to be a Slut in this family?" And I must confess, we now have midnight margaritas at our house too.) It is perhaps a drama, in that the thrust of the movie is about relationships. But it is not like any other drama I have seen.

The setting is wonderful, an old Victorian mansion, surrounded by a witch's garden. The costuming is wonderful, particularly the Aunts', loose and flowing, ornate and unusual. The musical score blends seamlessly into the movie, rarely calling attention to itself, but adding its own magic. I can tell you, I feel differently about Lime in the Coconut, and You Were Always on My Mind.

There is wonderful development of rich vivid characters. It helps to have an all star cast, with each one churning out brilliant performances. You grow to care about these women in the 104 minutes. Frances is cynical, but joyous, Jet irrepressible and sweet. Gillian is a siren, but also vulnerable, and Sally, Sally is so afraid of being hurt, she sometimes forgets to live.

The story shows their growth; Gillian learns to define herself as a woman, not by the men in her life, and Sally learns to come to terms with who and what she is, a witch, and what that means to her as a woman and a mother.

One of the great parallels of the movie, one I don't think it was intended, is this; Sally's relationship with magic is very much the story of gay people coming out.

Sally and Gillian were taunted as children; "Witch Witch, you're a B*tch!" and they struggled against the other children's cruelty. They were shunned by the townsfolk, and after Sally's husband Michael died, she made up her mind, no more magic, not for her, not for her children.

But that plan could never work. Just as your sexual orientation is a part of you, magic is a part of Sally. So when she and Gillian get in over their head, and need help, she is forced to seek it where ever she can. She is forced to admit to the women of the town that she is a witch, and she needs their strength.

And she blooms. Free of doubt and denial, she can at last be herself, and do what must be done. As her friends and employees at the herb shop say when they get the call, "I've got the best news! Sally just came out!" "What a fabulous affirmation." (Give your friends a chance to know you; they will surprise you.)

And the women respond, rushing to her aid. As Sally greets her primary childhood tormentor, she remarks, "Sarah, I'm surprised to see you." "Well, you know that since I was a little girl I have always wanted to see the inside of your house." she replied, gathering herself. And Sally is gracious. "Well, thank you for coming."

Together, the women form a full coven to battle the evil the sisters have unleashed. But that is not enough; Sisterhood is powerful, but the bond between the sisters is what tips the balance. Good triumphs, and love wins, reaching back across time to heal Maria's heart, and lift the curse.

Gay or witch, you should "always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, plant rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can" and remember, to thine own self be true.