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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.

Ep332: Monumental Washington

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie follow Denzel Washington on a warpath of righteous vengeance in The Equalizer 2!

Is there a limit to how much families-in-peril grotesqueries one filmmaker can parade on screen before a movie is disqualified as entertainment? How does the sequel compare to 2014's surprise smash hit (only one of the guys can say!) And what does Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have to do with any of this?

You'll just have to listen and find out!

Also, Ian opens the show with a very special dedication; reminds listeners of Monday night's 50th-anniversary screening of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine at Downers Grove's historic Tivoli Theatre--hosted by friend of the show, Pat "The Uber Critic" McDonald and presented by the After Hours Film Society; and tells you how you can help filmmaker Clare Cooney make her next project even more awesome!

Episode 332 will Lyft you up!

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Ep333: Wakandaboutism

Ep331: Dark Knight of the Solstice: Hi, David!