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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.

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

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

Critics everywhere are coming down with acute air sickness, thanks to Mel Gibson's latest film, Flight Risk. But at least two of Earth's Mightiest Critics think it's one of the best moviegoing experiences they've had in years!

There's a major caveat, of course: Ian and David saw the movie in 4DX (yeah, that setup where they shake your chair and hurl smoke and water at you)!

The film centers on a US Marshal (Michelle Dockery) who must transport a mob case witness (Topher Grace) to a Seattle courthouse--by way of a rickety Cessna flying over the snowy Alaskan wilderness. Their pilot (Mark Wahlberg) just happens to be a mob assassin and, well, things go south up north!

Join us for a turbulent look at the latest from the Academy Award-winning director of Braveheart and Hacksaw Ridge! We also talk spoilers and take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

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Ep1070: That's the Smell of Rock 'n Roll: On Dinner in America w/ Adam Rehmeier, Kyle Gallner & Emily Skeggs

Ep1070: That's the Smell of Rock 'n Roll: On Dinner in America w/ Adam Rehmeier, Kyle Gallner & Emily Skeggs

Ep1068: IndieSeen: 2024's Most Interesting Films

Ep1068: IndieSeen: 2024's Most Interesting Films