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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.

Ep456: The Burt Reynolds Home for Wayward Girls

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Pat “The Über Critic” McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com get downright swampy with a Southern-fried look at two Burt Reynolds movies, White Lightning and Gator!

Joseph Sargent's sweaty, gritty 1973 action flick, White Lightning, finds Reynolds playing a convict named Bobby "Gator" McKlusky, who goes undercover in a small town to bust the crooked lawman who's running moonshine--and who killed Gator's college-radical kid brother. Three years later, the star stepped behind the camera to direct one of the craziest and most unsettling sequels in movie history, and the guys have a good ol' time tracking its downward trajectory.

Also, you'll be privy to a few minutes of a lively (aka heated) Joker discussion at the outset. Don't worry: Ian and Pat are still friends, and they both share a last laugh. And if you haven't already heard enough Joker talk, there's a brand new YouTube commentary to laugh along with!

Episode 456 is a sucker for car crashes and cat ladies!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 2:57

Gator Trailer: 2:57 - 5:19

White Lightning / Gator Discussion: 5:19 - 50:30

Outro Music: 50:30 - 50:48

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Ep457: Scary Season with Sujewa!

Ep455: The Man Who Lacks