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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.

Ep843: IndieSeen: CONTEMPT (1963) and A Discussion on Race in Film Criticism

Ep843: IndieSeen: CONTEMPT (1963) and A Discussion on Race in Film Criticism

Ian Simmons

IndieSeen 2023 gets off to a contentious start as Ian and Sujewa engage in an unexpected debate about race in film criticism!

Also, they squeeze in a review of Jean-Luc Godard's absurd, challenging, and low-key-brilliant drama, Contempt!

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00 - 0:48

  • What's New with Sujewa? 0:49 - 2:05

  • "Sidebar" (Race in Film Criticism): 2:06 - 47:56

  • Contempt Review: 47:57 - 1:11:39

  • Outro (What's Next?): 1:11:40 - 1:15:47

Show Links:

  • Watch the Contempt trailer.

  • Listen to an early conversation between Ian and former New York Film Critics Circle Chair, Armond White.

Ep844: GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) - Movie Review

Ep844: GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) - Movie Review
Ep842: M3GAN (2023) - Round Table Review

Ep842: M3GAN (2023) - Round Table Review