Kicking the Seat

Ian and David talk about the three-year, three-film collaboration between John Ford and John Wayne know as the "Cavalry Trilogy".Olive Films recently released an extras-packed new Blu-ray of the series' third movie, Rio Grande, and the guys decided to check out the whole shebang from beginning to end. The result shocked both critics, whose history with Westerns has been iffy, and whose misconceptions about the genre were numerous...until now! Show Links:Watch the Fort Apache (1948) trailer.Watch the She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) trailer.Watch the Rio Grande (1950) trailer.Order Olive Films’ new “Signature” edition Rio Grande Blu-ray.Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and David review Chadwick Boseman's final movie, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom!Set in 1927 Chicago, George C. Wolfe's adaptation of the August Wilson play stars Viola Davis as the titular Blues pioneer as she struggles with management, producers, musicians, and her own ego to record one of her biggest hits.In this spoilerific conversation, the guys discuss the pros and cons of Wolfe's stage-to-screen production; issues of dimensionality in the main characters; and the surprising way in which the source material may have influenced another Black artist's breakout feature film.Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is now playing in select theatres, and will debut on Netflix on December 18th. Show Links:Watch the Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom trailer.Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

In the first Kicking the Seat video essay, Ian gives the new Melissa McCarthy comedy, Superintelligence, an IQ test--examining its meandering structure; bizarre politics; and chances of being the movie that kills dumb, big-budget rom-coms for Generation Stream.Show Links:Watch the Superintelligence trailer.Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and David look at the latest live-action Disney fantasy, Godmothered. Sharon Maguire's comedy is, fortunately, not another remake. However, the cliches fly fast and furious in this bizarre tale of fairy godmothers who are in danger of going out of business due to a lack of young girls needing their help.Jillian Bell stars as Eleanor, a young fairy-godmother-in-training who makes her way to the human world to help news producer Mackenzie (Isla Fisher) find her true love.The guys break down the many problems with this expectations-defying family film--from its odd messages to its sloppy story mechanics--and try to figure out just whom the filmmakers (and, indeed, Disney) are trying to impress.Godmothered is now streaming on Disney+.Show Links:Watch the Godmothered Trailer.Listen to Ian and David talk about Jillian Bell's previous film, Brittany Runs a Marathon (with guest marathon coach, Denise Sauriol).Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Controversial film critic Armond White returns to the Kicking the Seat Podcast to discuss his latest book, Make Spielberg Great Again! In this bold collection of essays, reviews, and commentary, White lays out his career-long fascination with the iconic creator of E.T. and Close Encounters, and makes a case for the writer/director's evolution as an artist of supreme social consciousness--the trajectory of which, White argues, has ultimately led Spielberg astray in the early 21st Century.In addition to exploring the book's themes, Ian and White talk about its origins; the trouble with critics; the hazard of political labels; and why everyone may be wrong about the Internet's most reviled movie reviewer. Show Links:Buy Make Spielberg Great Again at Amazon.Buy The Press Gang at Seven Stories Press. Follow Armond's writings at The National Review.Listen to Ian's interview with Armond White, Matt Zoller-Seitz, and Godfrey Cheshire about The Press Gang.Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and HollywoodChicago.com’s Pat “The Uber Critic” strip the show of all pretense with a look at Danny Wolf’s Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies! The documentary recently landed on Amazon Prime, and includes a comprehensive look at the origins, motivations, and evolution of flesh on celluloid.From the Silent Era to the #MeToo Era, the guys share their favorite revelations from the film; challenge some of Wolf’s dangling assertions; and explore their own complicated relationships with salacious movies and the culture surrounding them.Pat also shares the surprising inspiration for this episode—a story not to be missed!Episode 611 no longer eats apple pie!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 1:55Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies Trailer: 1:55 - 3:38Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies Discussion: 3:38 - 1:07:13Outro Music: 1:07:13 - 1:07:28Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

The Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie throw the holiday season into high gear with an interview for the ages! Filmmakers Ian and Eshom Nelms have been on the guys’ “nice” list ever since their spectacular 2018 neo-noir dramedy, Small Town Crime. They’ve followed up with the touching, bizarre, and imaginative Fatman, in which Mel Gibson plays a world-weary Santa Claus who must contend with the U.S. military and a hitman sent by a disgruntled little boy.After watching Ian and David’s video review a few weeks back, the Nelmses agree to sit down for a lengthy, in-depth look at Fatman’s development. The result, as you’ll soon hear, is all the cheer you’ll need to get you through 2020 (okay, maybe not—but it sounded good).Also, Ian invites you to watch the video version of this interview, and check out his and David’s initial Fatman review!Episode 610 has been good this year—promise!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:39Fatman Trailer: 2:39 - 5:10Fatman Discussion: 5:10 - 50:27Outro Music: 50:27 - 50:42Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Our Thanksgiving-week look at oddball family movies continues with one of the year’s most unpleasant yet strangely compelling films. Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie joins Ian for a spoilerific review of Ron Howard’s latest drama, Hillbilly Elegy, which is now streaming on Netflix.Glenn Close and Amy Adams star as a mother/daughter duo struggling against generations of poverty and abuse to raise a thirteen-year-old boy (Owen Asztalos) in late-90s rural Ohio. The kid defies all odds to become a promising law student (played as an adult by Gabriel Basso) at Yale, but a family crisis draws him back into his dark past and threatens to jeopardize his future.The movie has been trashed by critics and not warmly embraced by audiences, and Ian and David delve into why that may be, offering some stern criticisms of their own while also heaping praise in the scant places where it’s due. They also revisit their conversations about unlikable characters and unworthy Oscar winners to give their Hillbilly Elegy discussion a deeper context that’s missing in other coverage of the film.Episode 609 has no trouble social distancing from this family for the holidays!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:29Hillbilly Elegy Trailer: 2:51 - 4:44Hillbilly Elegy Discussion: 4:44 - 1:05:55Outro Music: 1:05:55 - 1:06:11Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, The Kicking the Seat Podcast and Cole Rush of The Quill to Live look back on thirty years of The Godfather Part III. Not that this is some cherished cinema standard-bearer like the first two films (in fact, quite the opposite), but since the guys have reviewed The Godfather and The Godfather Part II as part of their “Late Screening” series over the years, it’s only fitting that they officially lay the series to rest.Note: This is not a review of the recently announced “Coda” edition of the film, which hits theatres December 4th. This is just the plain ol’ (and plain ol’ bad) original theatrical cut. Just when you thought you were out, Episode 608 pulls you back in!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 3:51The Godfather Part III Trailer: 3:51 - 5:40The Godfather Part III Discussion: 5:40 - 51:53Outro Music: 51:53 - 52:09Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, The Kicking the Seat Podcast welcomes back filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake and actress Alia Lorae for an update on their recently shot film, The Secret Society for Slow Romance, as well as a look at Richard Linklater’s 1995 Slow Cinema rom-com, Before Sunrise!Also, Ian reminds you about Swoop Films’ limited time special offer for Kay Rubacek’s harrowing documentary, Finding Courage; invites you to join the “What If He Doesn’t Survive?” crew live this Sunday night for a lively Mandalorian recap; and teases tomorrow’s debut of his latest creative endeavor!Episode 607 is president of the Hawke/Delpy Fan Club!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 6:28Before Sunrise Trailer: 6:28 - 8:06The Secret Society for Slow Romance Update: 8:06 - 43:03Before Sunrise Discussion: 43:03 - 56:53Outro Music: 56:53 - 57:09Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!