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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.

Ep1167: Spooky Action Up Close: An Interview with Crispin Hellion Glover

Ep1167: Spooky Action Up Close: An Interview with Crispin Hellion Glover

You may know Crispin Hellion Glover as an eccentric character actor from classics films like Back to the Future, River’s Edge, and, of course, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. But he's also a committed independent filmmaker.

Earlier this month, he attended the press screening for his latest movie, No! You’re Wrong. Or: Spooky Action at a Distance at Chicago's Music Box Theatre--where he also performed a half-hour historical slideshow about the art and science of rat-catching for a handful of assembled press. After the show, Ian sat down with the writer/director/star for a wide-ranging interview about his refusal to make his films available digitally; his relationship with David Lynch; the history of Surrealism; artificial intelligence in the Arts, and much more.

As for the movie at hand, it would require several hours and a couple of re-watches to accurately describe (and probably not even then). The best Ian can muster is, "It's like There Will Be Blood meets Cloud Atlas, set in the Land of Make-Believe".

Chicagoans! See below to learn how you can experience this one-of-a-kind evening with the man himself this very week!

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Show Links

  • Watch the No! You’re Wrong. Or: Spooky Action at a Distance trailer.

  • Crispin Hellion Glover returns to the Music Box this week for two unbelievable nights of movies!

  • On Wednesday, October 22, he'll be on hand for a screening of a film he recently starred in, Mr. K. On Thursday the 23rd, he'll present his latest slideshow, followed by a screening of No! You’re Wrong. Or: Spooky Action at a Distance.

    • He'll stick around for an hour-long Q&A and book signing--with a promise that he won't leave until the last book is signed!

    • For tickets and more info, check out the Music Box Theatre's website:

Ep1166: Featured Extras: F1: The Movie

Ep1166: Featured Extras: F1: The Movie