profile pic ian.jpg

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 NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy 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.

Ep15: Oddly Great and Powerful with Matt and Graham!

Welcome to Wonderland, kids!

(Sorry, I meant to say "Oz"!)

This week's episode finds your host even more fatigued than usual, but hopeful for the future. It also marks the first of (hopefully many) roundtables with guests Matt Lazar and Graham Sher!

Join us for a discussion about Oz the Great and Powerful, the Disney-fication of blockbusters in general, and an exploration of the "Sloppy Tandoori"!

As always, we appreciate your tuning in. Feel free to spread the word on iTunes, your favorite message boards, or during your daily stroll through the prison yard!

Ep16: 2008 Summer Blockbuster Retrospective

Ep14: "VFX Side Story" with Graham Sher!