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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 Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy 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.

Ep547: BLOODS & Treasure

Ep547: BLOODS & Treasure

Ian Simmons

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast looks at Spike Lee's latest film, Da 5 Bloods, which recently debuted on Netflix. Joining Ian for a breakdown of this poignant and ambitious post-Viet Nam War drama are David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel and Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews.

Lee's story of four soldiers who return to Ho Chi Minh City in search of a fallen brother's remains quickly expands into a multi-layered story involving gold bars, anti-bomb activists, and sinister armed forces. Ian, EMan, and David talk about the director's evolution from 1989's Do The Right Thing; the effectiveness of his filmmaking activism; and key performances that unanimously wowed the group.

Also, Ian reviews The Soul Collector (now available On Demand from Shout! Studios), and recommends Don Shanahan's review of Da 5 Bloods at Every Movie Has a Lesson and EMan's interview with Spike Lee and Delroy Lindo!

Episode 547 still believes that war is hell!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 1:53

The Soul Collector Review: 1:53 - 4:26

Intro Ct'd: 4:26 - 5:11

Da 5 Bloods Trailer: 5:11 - 7:40

Da 5 Bloods Discussion: 7:40 - 1:22:52

Outro Music: 1:22:52 - 1:23:08

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Ep548: The Slowdown: Skywalker of Arabia

Ep548: The Slowdown: Skywalker of Arabia
Ep546: Friday the 40th Part 6: Jason Has Risen

Ep546: Friday the 40th Part 6: Jason Has Risen