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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.

Ep340: Dark Knight of the Solstice: Permission to Die

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and HollywoodChicago.com's Pat “The Über Critic” conclude their three-part look at Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy with a spirited debate over The Dark Knight Rises! The film was Pat's number-one for 2012, while Ian struggles to call it a worthy follow-up to Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

The guys get deep into the weeds, talking about story issues; noteworthy performances, and what it's like watching the film in a political era that may have been presaged by it.

Also, the guys pay tribute to Aretha Franklin; Pat shares some of the goings-on at this year's Yippie Fest (going on now); and Ian gives a brief review of Shout Factory's new Blu-ray of The Unborn. Plus: a very special audio surprise for all the Bat-fans in the audience!

Episode 340 is hard enough to understand without the mask!

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Ep341: Late Screening: Freedom Brings Opportunity

Ep339: Oscar Bait?