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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.

Ep301: Less Human Than Human

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast ventures into the shimmer with a look at Alex Garland's sci-fi thriller, Annihilation! Joining Ian on this expedition are David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel and David Canfield of ScreenAnarchy and Magill's Cinema Annual.

This visually absorbing film impressed the guys, but one of them was left cold by the story--which centers on a team of scientists exploring an alien gateway that threatens to consume our world. This thorough and sometimes fiery chat covers everything from politics to religion to the ending of John Carpenter's The Thing.

Also, Ian talks a bit about Kino Lorber's recent home video release of Gabe Klinger's Porto; and reminds listeners about this weekend's screenings of Harriet Gordon Getzels and Peter Getzels' film, Zuzana: Music is Life, playing at various Chicagoland theatres as part of the JCC Chicago Film Festival.

Episode 301 listens to the flower people!

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Ep302: The Bronson Age

Ep300: Keys to the Future