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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.

Ep1174: Bugonia (2025) - Live Roundtable Review

Ep1174: Bugonia (2025) - Live Roundtable Review

Earth's Mightiest Critics survived Spooky Season and are charging headlong into one of Awards Season's buzziest films!

Bugonia is writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos' third feature in three years, all of which have been collaborations with actress Emma Stone. In this bizarre dark comedy, a no-nonsense CEO (Stone) is kidnapped by two conspiracy-obsessed brothers (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis), who believe she is the harbinger of an extraterrestrial invasion.

Also, bees are involved...somehow.

Join us for a spoilerific, "hive-and-mighty" roundtable review--where we break through the hype and take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

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Ep1173: IndieSeen: Casey Makes a Mixtape (2025) - Movie Review

Ep1173: IndieSeen: Casey Makes a Mixtape (2025) - Movie Review