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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.

Ep314: Disaster Relief

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and HollywoodChicago.com's Pat “The Über Critic” McDonald fan the flames of cinema epics past with a look at 1974's The Towering Inferno! What happens when a state-of-the-art luxury skyscraper falls victim to shoddy wiring? You guessed it: fleeing snobs, elevators to Hell, and Paul Newman dangling from half-melted railing. Ian and Pat came at the movie from different perspectives, and the resulting conversation offers a rich contrast in how one's familiarity with a film can deeply affect their enjoyment of it.

Also, Ian talks about the new Jim Carrey movie, Dark Crimes, and delivers a fun post-chat surprise, courtesy of "The Über Critic”!

Episode 314's actions scenes were directed by Irwin Allen!

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Ep315: Premium Cable

Ep313: Late Screening: Bowman for You (Son of Borat [Part 2])