Kicking the Seat

School's out, but there are many lessons ahead for Ian and Don!Today the guys revisit Amy Heckerling's landmark 1982 classic, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which was recently added to the Criterion Collection. Based on a novel by Cameron Crowe, in which the Rolling Stone reporter went undercover in a California high school to capture the true spirit of a generation, this funny, poignant, and, yes, fast-moving comedy put several stars on the map and forever changed the way America looks at carrots.Ian and Don discuss how their understanding of the film has evolved over the years; what sets it apart from other sex comedies of its time, and the surprising ways in which it still rings true.Also, Ian talks about some of the special features on the new Criterion disc, including a fascinating 1982 Q&A with Heckerling at the American Film Institute.Show Links:Watch the Fast Times at Ridgemont High trailer.Watch last year's celebrity script reading of Fast Times at Ridgemont High (you will NOT believe this shit!).Order the Fast Times at Ridgemont High Criterion Blu-ray.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson.And be sure to subscribe to his wonderful new podcast, Cinephile Hissy Fit!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and Sujewa kick off summer with a trip to the beach!Joe Swanberg's 2012 film, All the Light in the Sky, centers on a struggling actress named Marie (Jane Adams) whose weekend visit with her young niece, Faye (Sophia Takal), showcases a life lived on her own terms--for better and worse.In this multi-faceted conversation, the guys examine Swanberg's filmography (and the critical response to it); issues of race in the independent film scene; why All the Light in the Sky is a perennial winter movie for Sujewa, and what movies would look like if there were fifty Hollywoods instead of just one!Also, Sujewa gives an update on his forthcoming movie, The Secret Society for Slow Romance!"The Slowdown" is Kicking the Seat's monthly exploration of the world of Slow Cinema with filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake. Catch up on previous episodes on our "The Slowdown" Playlist.Show Links:Watch the All the Light in the Sky trailer.Listen to Ian's interview with Jane Adams and Kate Lyn Sheil for She Dies Tomorrow (referenced in the conversation).Find clips, making-of videos, and other cool info about Sujewa's upcoming film, The Secret Society for Slow Romance.Keep up with all of Sujewa's projects.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian talks with filmmaker, film essayist, and author Scout Tafoya about his new book, Cinemaphagy: On the Psychedelic Classical Form of Tobe Hooper!Tobe Hooper directed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, and other wildly influential horror films--but his legacy hasn't been nearly as heralded as many genre fans believe it should be.In his thorough analysis, Tafoya explores the themes, technique, and relevance of Hooper's filmography--from the household name classics to obscure experimental films, music videos, and more than a dozen episodes of genre television.In this pinballing conversation, the guys look at Scout's career in dissecting cinema; his affinity for Hooper; film critic blindspots, and that lingering controversy about the true director of POLTERGEIST! As a bonus, the guys look back on 35 years of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2! Time Stamps:Intro / Scout's Story (Origin of "The Unloved"): 0:00 - 7:39Cinemaphagy Discussion: 7:40 - 34:25Texas Chainsaw 2 Chat: 34:26 - 57:55Dark Web and The High Seas: 57:56 - 1:01:01The Spielberg Controversy: 1:01:02 - 1:07:01Outro: 1:07:02 - 1:09:37Show Links:Watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 trailer.Scout Tafoya's Cinemaphagy is available at booksellers everywhere, but you can order a signed copy exclusively from the MZS World Store.Catch up with Scout's long-running video essay series, "The Unloved", at RogerEbert.com.Explore more of Scout's films and essays on Vimeo.Follow Scout on Twitter.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and David challenge you to survive their rollercoaster of opinions regarding George A. Romero's long-lost film, The Amusement Park!Unearthed and restored after 46 years, this abandoned Public Service Announcement is now streaming on Shudder. Lincoln Maazel stars as a version of himself, navigating a bizarre carnival of metaphors centered on society's uncharitable views of the elderly.The guys talk about their love for Romero's Living Dead series; their embarrassing gaps in the maestro's filmography, and why The Amusement Park probably should have stayed buried.Show Links:Watch The Amusement Park trailer.Watch The Amusement Park exclusively on Shudder (with subscription). Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Listen to Ian and Cole Rush discuss George Romero's seminal horror film, Night of the Living Dead!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian welcomes back filmmaker Jer Sklar (Tom of Your Life) for a look at Ramin Bahrani's moving slice-of-life story, Man Push Cart!The 2005 neo-realist drama finds New York food cart operator Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi) making his way in the Big Apple after having left fame and fortune in Pakistan to start over in America. Personal tragedy, financial troubles, and a city that seems determined to keep him from succeeding combine to create a powerful immigrant story that you won't be able to shake.Ian and Jer cover a lot of ground in this conversation, from the impact of theatres on the moviegoing experience; the struggles of indie creators to bring personal stories to wide audiences; and how the special features presented by Criterion (on both their recently released Blu-ray and Criterion Channel supplements) broadened their understanding of Man Push Cart and Bahrani as a filmmaker.Show Links:Watch the Man Push Cart trailer: https://youtu.be/-kkm5IrfMLABuy The Criterion Collection's Man Push Cart Blu-ray / DVD.Watch Man Push Cart and other Criterion classics on The Criterion Channel. Watch Jer’s debut feature film, Tom of Your Life.Catch the film's Chicago premiere this weekend at the Music Box Theatre.Keep up with Jer's Chicago-based production company, Satori! Studios.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and Pat look at a movie that history (and most of the people involved in making it) has tried to bury: Mark Rydell's 1976 flop, Harry and Walter Go To New York!This vaudeville-era heist comedy is heavy with star power, including James Caan, Elliott Gould, Diane Keaton, and Michael Caine--but it was swept into obscurity on a wave of The Sting's imitators.The guys unearth this obscure gem and discuss why it really worked for one critic, and not so much the other; why it might be better appreciated today; and how its themes transcend slapstick comedy, revealing some dark and truly biting social commentary.Show Links:Watch the Harry and Walter Go To New York trailer.Keep up with Pat at HollywoodChicago.com.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and David make a lot of noise about A Quiet Place Part 2!The sequel to John Krasinski's 2018 mega-hit was shelved by COVID, but the continuation of the Abbott family saga has finally clawed its way to the big screen. Emily Blunt returns to a world overrun by sound-sensitive killer aliens, and Cillian Murphy pops up as her battle-scarred survivalist neighbor.The tenor of this spoiler-packed conversation is markedly different from their Part 1 love-fest (in which they were joined by ChicagoFilm's Lee Shoquist). Find out what's new, what's improved, and what's hopefully through as the series rockets toward an inevitable third chapter!Also, Ian and David talk about their respective returns to the movie theatre after ten months away. Have things gotten better or worse since the lockdowns began, and what does the future hold for these lovers of the big-screen experience? Watch and find out!Time Stamps:A Quiet Place Part 2 Discussion: 0:00 - 50:22Back to the Movies? 50:22 - 1:05:13Outro: 1:05:14 - 1:06:20Show Links:Watch the A Quiet Place Part 2 trailer.Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Listen to Ian, David, and Lee's 2018 review of A Quiet Place.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

It's dogfight time as Ian and Don spar over the live-action Disney prequel, Cruella!Emma Stone stars as the titular villainess-in-the-making, whose rise from 1960s street urchin to ruthless mid-70s fashion magnate is portrayed with all the glam and intrigue of a superhero origin story. But is that a good thing?In this wide-ranging and VERY spoilery debate, the guys look at the character's origins in 101 Dalmatians; examine the bizarre narrative traps that the movie must dodge; and question the messages lurking beneath the dresses, dogs, and de Vil-ish hijinks.And, yes, they ask (and answer, kind of) the question, "Who is this movie for?"Cruella is now playing in theatres and is also available On Demand via Disney+ Premier Access.Show Links:Watch the Cruella trailer.Read Don's Cruella review at Every Movie Has a Lesson.Listen to the latest episodes of Don's weekly Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast, in which he and Will Johnson debate the proto-Cruella film, Joker, and the Emma Stone musical, La La Land! Read Ian’s written Cruella review at Kicking the Seat.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and David build a nostalgia machine and revisit Joe Dante's 1985 cult kids film, Explorers!Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, and Jason Presson star as three suburban pre-teens whose dreams are taken over by an alien intelligence. They use the knowledge shared by these mysterious E.T.s to cobble together a spaceship and head off to discover the secrets of the universe. What they discover lies at the heart of why Explorers is unique among the movies of its era--and why it failed to find much of an audience during its theatrical run.Ian and David discuss what the film means to them, and how it fits into an unofficial mid-80s trilogy. They also share some thoughts on Shout Factory's new Special Edition Blu-ray, which came out this week.Show Links:Watch the Explorers trailer.Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Buy Shout Factory's new Explorers Special Edition Blu-ray.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and Aaron's journey through Hammerland continues with a look at Terence Fisher's magnificent Frankenstein Created Woman!Don't let the title fool you: This film leaps off the screen, blending wild elements of sci-fi, intrigue, and an ahead-of-its-time revenge plot that's like a tasteful distillation of A Clockwork Orange and I Spit On Your Grave!In this spoilerific love-fest, the guys talk about where this fits in Hammer Films' loosely constructed Frankenstein continuity; dig into the big scientific and spiritual questions posed by the good doctor's latest bizarre invention, and marvel at the success of a Frankenstein movie that barely features Frankenstein or a traditional monster!"Hammerland" is our monthly look at the 1950s-1970s Hammer Studios horror films featuring Dracula and Frankenstein.Show Links:Watch the Frankenstein Created Woman trailer.Read Aaron's review of Frankenstein Created Woman at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Buy Scream Factory's Frankenstein Created Woman Blu-ray.And join the "Accademia Giallo" crew LIVE this Sunday (5/30/21) for a look at Andrea Bianchi's Strip Nude For Your Killer! Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!