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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.

Ep1200: Mercy (2026) - Live Roundtable Review

Ep1200: Mercy (2026) - Live Roundtable Review

Earth's Mightiest Critics use their natural intelligence to review a movie about artificial intelligence--which is lacking in basic intelligence!

In Mercy, Chris Pratt stars as Chris Raven (not making that up), a detective accused of killing his wife. He is put on trial by an AI judge (Rebecca Ferguson), and has 90 minutes to clear his name.

Join us as we draft a minority report and prepare to prosecute this bizarre cinematic thought-crime!

Also, Ian addresses an issue with the comments section.

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Show Links

Ep1199: Accademia Giallo: A Hyena in the Safe (1968) - Live Roundtabe Review

Ep1199: Accademia Giallo: A Hyena in the Safe (1968) - Live Roundtabe Review