INFORMAZIONI SU QUESTO EPISODIO
This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss "Practical Magic 2,” the sequel to the witchy 1998 book-to-screen adaptation “Practical Magic,” starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The new film is an adaptation of writer Alice Hoffman’s “The Book of Magic,” the fourth and final book in her “Practical Magic” series.
Bullock and Kidman reprise their roles as the cursed Owens sisters, as do Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, who play their aunts. The new sequel was directed by Susanne Bier and finds actors Joey King, Maisie Williams and Lee Pace joining the ensemble cast. This film catches us up with the Owens family of witches as they try to break a centuries-old curse.
Before talking about curses and spells, Sophie recaps her trip to Italy and the book she read that she can’t stop thinking about, which we’ll be covering on the podcast this fall (00:01:51). Then she discusses a new profile she wrote on novelist Emily St. John Mandel for Elle, which you can read here (00:04:20).
Rudi shares a few recent movie recommendations: one new (Joe Swanberg’s “The Sun Never Sets”) and one old (1960’s “Shoot the Piano Player”). (00:07:58) He briefly gushes over seeing Robyn in concert (00:11:01) before they chat about the Emmy Awards and how adaptations fared (not good) (00:13:50), as well as his thoughts on Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” (00:18:40).
Then they get into "Practical Magic” and “Practical Magic 2,” starting with their history with the original film (00:21:18), the background behind Hoffman’s books and Sophie’s personal connection to the author (00:24:38). Then Rudi shares some details on the making of the first film (00:28:31) and they discuss why it has endured as a cozy fall cult classic (00:35:00).
Sophie reveals some major differences between “The Book of Magic” and “Practical Magic 2” (00:40:00) before they walk through the shaggy plot (00:46:30) and share their thoughts on the new film which they both found to be boring, baffling and bad to look at.
Finally, Sophie shares her Sophie’s Choice pick for which she liked better: reading “The Book of Magic” or watching “Practical Magic 2.” (01:10:30)
Next week, we’re looking ahead to the rest of the year with a special episode previewing the adaptations we’re most anticipating reading, watching and covering on the podcast this fall.
It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.
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Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg
Editing: Rudi Greenberg
Social media: Sophie Vershbow
Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons
Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto
Website: Kevin Pfab
