profile pic ian.jpg

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.

Ep265: ACIFFssin's Creed

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie return with more coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival, as well as a look at the new kinda-sorta-not-really Schwarzenegger movie, Killing Gunther!

What went wrong with Taran Killam's found-footage action/comedy--and what few things went right? Which films should you check out at CIFF, and which ones can you put on the back burner? And how long will it take for Ian to finish Tokyo Vampire Hotel?

Also, Ian has info on a ton of cool Chicago goings-on this weekend, including Chavela at the Music Box Theatre; the one-night-only screening of Adam Green's Victor Crowley at the AMC Rosemont, hosted by F! This Movie's Patrick Bromley; and the French period werewolf drama The Man-Beast at Oak Brook's First Folio Theatre (starring friend of the show Aaron Christensen--aka "Dr. A.C.")!

Episode 265 doesn't show up 'til the very end, but still makes the poster!

You can keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on TwitterFacebookiTunes, and Stitcher!

Ep266: Late Screening: We're Ready to Believe You!

Ep264: The Song of CHAVELA