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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.

Ep205: The Key of "Yikes!"

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast kicks off a full week of film commentary and interviews, beginning with a lively and insightful look at Terrence Malick's latest journey into somnambulation, Song to Song. Ian and Pat "The Über Critic" McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com admire the scenery but get lost in the weeds of Malick's patience-shattering look at the Austin music scene.

The chat covers everything from symbolism to Warhol to film criticism-as-promotion--and, yes, even some thoughts on Song to Song! There's also a bona fide plot twist, as one of the guys changes his tune (kinda) on the film.

Our promise to you: Episode 205 contains zero-percent wistful gazes and bird imagery!

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

Ep206: Fu Tien-Yu's Fertile Imagination

Ep204: The Right to Choose