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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.

Ep292: Age and Perfection

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and HollywoodChicago.com's Pat “The Über Critic” McDonald talk about the movies that came out when they did: 1977's Pumping Iron and 1960's Never on Sunday! If you've never seen (or heard of) these films, you're in good company--both were delightful discoveries for the guys, who vow to dive into their birth-year vaults as an annual tradition.

What does a documentary about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno competing for the 1975 "Mr. Olympia" title have in common with a Greek comedy about an American tourist trying to force culture onto a middle-aged, life-loving prostitute?

More than you might think.

Also, Ian reminds you to get tickets for next week's Mercury in Retrograde Chicago premiere screenings at the Gene Siskel Film Center (he'll be moderating the cast/crew Q&A on 2/21!), and has info on a special sneak-preview event for the 2018 DOC10 Film Festival!

Episode 292 hears you now and will believe you later!

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Ep293: The Paraquel PARADOX

Ep291: OPERAtunity Knocks