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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.

Ep1213: The Bride! (2026) - Live Roundtable Review

Ep1213: The Bride! (2026) - Live Roundtable Review

Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! is one of the worst-reviewed, most financially disastrous films of the year.

But is "Bonnie and Clyde Meets The Bride of Frankenstein" really that bad? Or, like the Monster in Mary Shelley's classic horror novel--has the hated beast simply been misunderstood?

This week, Earth's Mightiest Critics take a long, spoilerific walk down the aisle to see if there is cause for celebration...or annulment! Join us as we renew our vows to confront escapism--even at its ugliest!

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Ep1212: IndieSeen: His Monster (2025) - Movie Review

Ep1212: IndieSeen: His Monster (2025) - Movie Review