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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.

Tumbleweeds and Cobwebs

Ian Simmons

Fear not, gang! Kicking the Seat is still very much alive and...um...kicking!

"How can that be, Ian, when the last review I read on this site was a week ago?"

The answer's simple: I've been crazy-busy (emphasis on the crazy). Between the KtS podcast; my first forray into radio (8am on Chicago's WDCB 90.9fm); co-designing the program for the second annual Chicago Critics Film Festival (May 9-15); and even watching movies, I've had many irons in the fire, which I'm pulling out gradually (is that how that metaphor works?).

This has left no time to write reviews--but I can feel a lightning charge in my fingertips, and you shall soon read my thoughts on The Other Woman, Teenage, and Nymphomaniac: Volume II.

As always, thanks for your patience, and take care!

FLETCH at Studio Movie Grill Wheaton!

GREMLINS Screening Swag!