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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.

Ep1126: F1: The Movie (2025) - LIVE Roundtable Review

Ep1126: F1: The Movie (2025) - LIVE Roundtable Review

Summer 2025 has been the IP killer, with once-mighty franchises bombing harder than the climax of Dr. Strangelove.

But, wait! What's that coming around the track? Why, it's Brad Pitt behind the wheel of the ultimate racing flick, F1: The Movie!

This week, Earth's Mightiest Critics are revved and ready to make the case that Joseph Kosinski's latest IMAX spectacle is one of the best films of the year--and a danger to commuters everywhere! While Ehren Kruger's screenplay won't set the world on fire, F1 is packed with classic performances, hard-driving race photography, and enough Dude Energy to fuel ten Top Gun: Maverick’s!

Join us as we drive circles around other movie review podcasts with fair, spoilerific, and high-octane analysis! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Public Service Announcement: If you're planning to see this summer sleeper hit, we implore you to see it in IMAX, or whichever premium-format experience is nearest to you. This is the reason such experiences exist!

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Ep1125: 28 Years Later (2025) - Live Roundtable Review

Ep1125: 28 Years Later (2025) - Live Roundtable Review