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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep534: The Dukes of ARKANSAS

Ep534: The Dukes of ARKANSAS

Ian Simmons

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast travels down South with Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson for a deep-fried look at Arkansas! Co-writer/director/star Clark Duke's off-beat thriller finds two young drug runners plotting to clean up a bloody mess before the shadowy head of their operation catches on.

The film evokes Elmore Leonard and The Coen Brothers, but has its own unique voice that alternates between warbly and refreshingly operatic. Ian and Don talk the good, the bad, and the nitpicky--and take a couple of fun detours to praise Vince Vaughn's film-stealing performance.

Arkansas is now available On Demand and via good ol' fashioned physical media--and you'll definitely want to watch it before listening to this spoilerific episode!

Episode 534 knows where the bodies are buried!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 1:53

Arkansas Trailer: 1:53 - 4:16

Arkansas Discussion: 4:16 - 48:10

Outro Music: 48:10 - 48:25

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Ep535: Late Screening: Alternative Facts

Ep535: Late Screening: Alternative Facts
Ep533: Employment History

Ep533: Employment History