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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.

Ep464: French Quarter-Century

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews bust out the ruffles and floss for a look back at Neil Jordan's Interview with the Vampire, which turns twenty-five this year. Brad Pitt stars as a New Orleans creature of the night who recounts his life in the shadows to a skeptical journalist, played by Christian Slater. Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, and Antonio Banderas pop up as objects of desire and torment, setting the stage for an intricate franchise that ultimately went nowhere.

Ian and Mike look at what happened, what could have happened, and why the film inspired by Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles novels still holds up today. They also talk about some of the movies they've seen at the 55th Chicago International Film Festival, which runs now through Sunday at the AMC River East.

Drink from Episode 464 and live forever!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 2:54

Interview with the Vampire Trailer: 2:54 - 5:21

Interview with the VampireDiscussion: 5:21- 53:00

Outro Music: 53:00 - 53:49

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Ep465: We Do Not See Eye to Eye

Ep463: CIFF Upper Lip!