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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.

Ep409: Dip Your WICK

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast convenes the High Table of Chicago film critics to discuss John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum! Join Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews, and Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson as they rave (and rant, a bit) about one of the craziest, most entertaining action movies in recent memory.

Believe it or not, the guys spend a disproportionate amount of time looking at the characters in this reluctant-hitman saga, instead of just fawning over the guns, stunts, and mayhem.

Also, Ian reminds listeners to camp out at the Music Box Theatre, starting tonight, for the seventh annual Chicago Critics Film Festival! You won't want to miss this year's record-breaking number of premieres, guests, and soon-to-be-discovered gems.

Episode 409 has had a rough couple of weeks!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:15

Intro: 0:15 - 3:52

John Wick 3 Trailer: 3:52 - 6:14

John Wick 3 Discussion: 6:14 - 1:22:13

Outro Music: 1:22:13 - 1:22:29

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Ep410: Rub & Tug

Ep408: Scuola Argento: Remedial Musicology