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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.

Ep1068: IndieSeen: 2024's Most Interesting Films

Ep1068: IndieSeen: 2024's Most Interesting Films

Ian Simmons

We bid a final farewell to 2024 with this special IndieSeen look at last year's "Most Interesting Indies"!

Sujewa recently posted a list of his favorite independent movies at DIY Filmmaker, and he touches on each of them with Ian--who also throws in a couple of contenders that are worth watching. Not all of these films came out last year, but the guys watched them in 2024.

Is that cheating?

Maybe.

But great recommendations are great recommendations!

Plus: The guys say a few words in memory of filmmaker David Lynch and arthouse theatre pioneer Robert Laemmle; throw some (rhetorical) water on the California fires; and further decrease the odds of Hong Sang-soo making a guest appearance on the show!

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Show Links

Ep1069: Flight Risk (2025) - Live Round Table Review

Ep1069: Flight Risk (2025) - Live Round Table Review
Ep1067: Target Audience: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

Ep1067: Target Audience: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)