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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.

Ep485: Disney Minus

It is a day that will long be remembered! Join Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews, Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson, and Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree for a passionate and extremely spoilerific look at the end of the "Skywalker Saga".

Following a press screening earlier this week, the guys pulled up chairs at the AMC River East bar in Chicago to dissect this controversial and utterly bewildering film. Is this the worst Star Wars ever? Or just an utterly underwhelming send-off to one of pop-culture's greatest touchstones? Listen and find out!

Also, Ian reminds listeners about a 35mm screening of Chained For Life coming up at the Gene Siskel Film Center this Sunday, hosted by none other than today's incomparable co-host and semi-professional Wookie impersonator, David Fowlie!

Episode 485 was behind everything all along!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:25

Intro: 0:25 - 4:48

Star Wars Episode IX Trailer: 4:48 - 7:03

Star Wars Episode IX Discussion: 7:03 - 1:08:13

Outro Music: 1:28:53 - 1:9:27

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Ep486: Reelpolitik: Follow the Money

Ep484: Late Screening: Multiplication Tables