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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 Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy 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.

Ep673: Criterion Cove: MAN PUSH CART

Ep673: Criterion Cove: MAN PUSH CART

Ian Simmons

Ian welcomes back filmmaker Jer Sklar (Tom of Your Life) for a look at Ramin Bahrani's moving slice-of-life story, Man Push Cart!

The 2005 neo-realist drama finds New York food cart operator Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi) making his way in the Big Apple after having left fame and fortune in Pakistan to start over in America. Personal tragedy, financial troubles, and a city that seems determined to keep him from succeeding combine to create a powerful immigrant story that you won't be able to shake.

Ian and Jer cover a lot of ground in this conversation, from the impact of theatres on the moviegoing experience; the struggles of indie creators to bring personal stories to wide audiences; and how the special features presented by Criterion (on both their recently released Blu-ray and Criterion Channel supplements) broadened their understanding of Man Push Cart and Bahrani as a filmmaker.

Show Links:

Ep674: THE AMUSEMENT PARK (1973) - Movie Review

Ep674: THE AMUSEMENT PARK (1973) - Movie Review
Ep672: Forgotten But Not Gone: HARRY AND WALTER GO TO NEW YORK

Ep672: Forgotten But Not Gone: HARRY AND WALTER GO TO NEW YORK