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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 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.

Ep185: Reclaimed Wood

If a tree falls in the woods, does anyone hear it? If Ian doesn't like J.A. Bayona's A Monster Calls, does anyone care? Well, yes, as you'll hear in this short but sweet discussion with Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie. The new family film about a young boy who learns to deal with loss, thanks to the help of a fantastical friend, is a visual wonder in the tradition of movies like The NeverEnding Story and The Iron Giant. But is being like other movies enough to earn a pass? The answer may surprise you.

Also, provides a zero-hour reminder of tonight's 40th anniversary screening of Saturday Night Fever at Classic Cinemas Elk Grove, hosted by Pat "The Uber Critic" McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com!

You wood-n't want to miss our tree-mendous 185th episode!*

You can keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on TwitterFacebookiTunes, and Stitcher!

*Sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

Ep186: Bahstin Strong

Ep184: Missionary Lizards