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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.

Ep122: The 99 HOMES of "James" Garfield

This week, Ian and Matt discuss the Ramin Bahrani's housing-crisis drama, 99 Homes. The guys attended a special screening at Chicago's new Arclight Cinema on Wednesday night, and were treated to a lively audience Q&A with actor Michael Shannon afterwards. Does the film live up to its awards-season buzz? What makes it a really good movie instead of a great one? And why is Matt obsessed with seeing a former U.S. President take on one of its meatiest roles?

The answers to these questions, as well as Ian's high-level thoughts on Spotlight and Shelter (which opens in limited release and on VOD this weekend), await in Episode 122!

As always, we invite you to comment, follow, like, subscribe to, and share Kicking the Seat on TwitterFacebookiTunes, and Stitcher!

Ep123: Spoiler Alert!!!

Ep121: The Ties that Bond