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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.

Ep682: A.I. @ XX with Armond White

Ep682: A.I. @ XX with Armond White

Ian Simmons

Armond White returns to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence!

It's been exactly two decades since Ian saw the film on opening day, and re-watching it for the show was quite an eye-opening experience. Armond hadn't seen it in years, either, and in the next hour, you'll see two critics giving an under-appreciated sci-fi masterpiece its due.

From the ahead-of-its-time technological and political allegories; to its multi-layered examination of the Pinnochio story; and unapologetically spiritual exploration of what it means to be human, A.I. offers a lot for Ian and Armond to chew on.

They also speculate on the late Stanley Kubrick's influence in his collaboration with Spielberg, and talk through Armond's one major story critique.

Show Links:

Ep683: Hammerland: DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE

Ep683: Hammerland: DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
Ep681: A Novel Idea: An Interview with SHELL OF A MAN Author Mario Anthony

Ep681: A Novel Idea: An Interview with SHELL OF A MAN Author Mario Anthony