Kicking the Seat

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast returns with another installment of “Reelpolitik”, in which we look at a politically themed film each month leading up to the 2020 election. Today, Ian welcomes back MVP guest host Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson for a cutting analysis of Elia Kazan’s 1957 drama, A Face in The Crowd, starring Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, and Walter Matthau.Griffith stars as Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes, a schemer with a knack for showbusiness and an utter disdain for the commoners who made him fabulously wealthy. Sound like someone you know? Yes, the comparisons to President Donald Trump have been numerous in the last few years, but you’re about to hear several reasons why the the critique is not only sloppy, but in several cases, untrue.That’s not so say this is a Trump love-fest; rather it’s a level-headed look at the film’s real targets, which pose an even greater threat to humanity than POTUS 45.Also, Ian invites listeners to check out his latest appearance on The Spoiler Room podcast, in which he discusses Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City! And if you love A Face in the Crowd, check out Criterion’s Blu-ray, which Don talks a bit about during the show.Episode 586 is the hot mic of podcasts!Show Guide:Presidential Material: 0:00 - 0:36Intro Music: 0:36 - 0:51Intro: 0:51 - 4:47A Face in the Crowd Trailer: 4:47 - 6:57A Face in the Crowd Discussion: 6:57 - 58:40Outro Music: 58:40 - 58:55Keep 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 Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree mix things up with a look at Ratched Season One, which launches today on Netflix! A follow-up to a conversation we had in April, this episode zeroes in on the issues plaguing American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy’s attempt to center a One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest prequel on its main villain, Nurse Mildred Ratched.This is far from a deep-dive, as an unusually strict embargo prevented Ian and Mike from discussing some key narrative elements. But they forged ahead with some scathing critiques of a show whose utter disregard for Milos Forman’s Oscar-winning movie and Ken Kesey’s hard-hitting novel is downright unforgivable.Kesey’s searing critique of America and its 1960s-era mental health system has given way to gratuitous violence, cartoonish vamping, and social justice anachronisms that undermine what appear to be genuinely sincere beliefs on the part of the showrunners.Also, check out Mike’s written review of Ratched: Season One. And for a completely different kind of conversation, give a listen to the latest episode of You’ll Probably Agree, in which the guys debate the merits of Blade Runner 2049!Episode 585 is the transorbital lobotomy of podcasts!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 5:13Ratched Trailer: 5:13 - 8:00Ratched Discussion: 8:00 - 55:55Outro Music: 55:55 - 56:11Keep 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 Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm.com welcome author Peter M. Bracke to this very special bonus episode of “Friday the 40th”! Since the beginning of 2020, Ian and Lee have dedicated one show a month to analyzing a film in the Friday the 13th franchise, and Bracke’s comprehensive 2006 history, Crystal Lake Memories, has been their guide.Today, Peter joins the guys in celebrating the series’ ups, downs, and sideways turns by talking about everything from theories to favorite entries to what it took to get one legendary assemblage of lost footage ready for Scream Factory’s upcoming Blu-ray box set!Also, Ian reviews the wonderful new documentary, This is Paris (streaming now on Youtube Originals), and recommends his YouTube-exclusive interview with director Alexandra Dean. You can also check out David Fowlie’s written review and his talk with Dean at Keeping It Reel!Episode 584 brings you three times the terror!Show Guide:Nothing But The Truth: 0:00 - 0:08Intro Music: 0:08 - 0:22Intro: 0:22 - 2:01This is Paris Review: 2:01 - 5:40Intro Ct’d: 5:40 - 6:43Dead as Disco (Transition Music): 6:43 - 7:20Peter Bracke Interview: 7:20 - 1:11:28Outro Music: 1:11:28 - 1::11:44Keep 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 takes an uncomfortably big bite out of The Big Apple with an “Accademia Giallo” lesson on The New York Ripper! Lucio Fulci’s grimy and gory 1982 thriller stars Jack Hedley as a beleaguered cop on the trail of a vicious serial killer who attacks beautiful young women—while quacking like a cartoon duck.Ian really struggled with this one. Fortunately, his oh-so-patient and insightful professors, Aaron Christensen of Horror 101 with Dr. A.C. and Bryan Martinez of the Film Deviant Podcast, talked him through a film that walks the razor’s edge of truly disturbing exploitation and relentless satire of the genre’s most distasteful aspects.The guys talk about why The New York Ripper is so different from Fulci’s previous movies;* how it simultaneously repels viewers and awakens the voyeur in all of them; and which scene might qualify to join the “Giallo Bingo” card!Also, Ian talks about his latest deep dive on The Spoiler Room podcast, and invites listeners to watch the episode on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!Episode 583 is more than it’s quacked up to be!*It’s so different, in fact, that Ian completely forgot that he’d seen several of Fulci’s other movies!—AND that he’d interviewed Fulci’s long-time composer Fabio Frizzi on Episode 153!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 3:20The New York Ripper Trailer: 3:20 - 5:49The New York Ripper Discussion: 5:49 1:02:18Outro Music: 1:02:18 - 1:02:33Keep 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 talks Rent-a-Pal with writer/director Jon Stevenson and stars Brian Landis Folkins and Wil Wheaton! In this offbeat 90’s-set thriller, Folkins stars as David, a lonely forty-year-old who discovers a strange VHS tape at his virtual dating service. The video’s clean-cut and cheerful host, Andy (Wheaton), offers fun and companionship—but at a price David isn’t quite ready to pay.In this pair of brief and spoiler-free interviews (one with Wheaton, one with Stevenson and Folkins), Ian and his guests dig the film’s origins; the strange coincidences that followed the production; and insights from the actors about creating multi-layered characters.Also, Ian reviews Rent-a-Pal; recommends the video versions of both interviews; and tells Chicagoans where they can catch it on the big screen this weekend (as well as On Demand)!Episode 582 is kind, but doesn’t rewind! Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 0:31Rent-a-Pal Review: 0:31 - 3:34Intro Ct’d: 3:34 - 5:35Rent-a-Pal Trailer: 5:35 - 7:21Wil Wheaton Interview: 7:21 - 18:21Transition Music: 18:21 - 18:58Jon Stevenson / Brian Landis Folkins Interview: 18:58 - 34:34Outro Music: 34:34 - 34:50Keep 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 Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree razzle and dazzle you with a “B” movie double-feature like no other! Behold this groundbreaking and illuminating spoilerific review of Ed Wood and Plan 9 From Outer Spaaaaaaace!Tim Burton’s offbeat, Oscar-winning 1994 biopic, Ed Wood, stars Johnny Depp as the titular schlock cinema director whose status as the worst filmmaker in history is undercut by a real-life story that is as sad as it is inspiring. Wood’s 1957 sci-fi feature, Plan 9 From Outer Space, is a thinly disguised knock-off of The Day The Earth Stood Still (with zombies!), but it’s also a testament to one artist’s singular and undaunted vision.In this episode, Ian and Mike give Ed Wood his due.Also, the guys talk a bit about Tenet, and Ian shares his thoughts on going back to the movies after nearly half a year!Episode 581 lost its chompers in the war!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 6:37Ed Wood Trailer: 6:37 - 8:46Ed Wood Discussion: 8:46 - 1:16:48Outro Music: 1:16:48 - 1:17:03Keep 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 filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake return with Season Two of their monthly look at the fast-paced world of Slow Cinema, “The Slowdown”! First up is a look at Sujewa’s latest movie, The Secret Society for Slow Romance, which starts shooting in the next couple weeks.The guys welcome actress Alia Lorae, who talks about her experience on Sujewa’s last film, Werewolf Ninja Philosopher, and her preparations for performing alongside the writer/director/actor in his new tale about two New York indie filmmakers who fall in love during lockdown, and hatch a plan to rid the world of poverty.Also, Ian teases his appearance on the latest episode of The Spoiler Room Podcast, and invites listeners to watch his conversation with Sujewa and Alia on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!Episode 580 now knows way too much about necrophilia!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 3:35Transition Music: 3:35 - 3:51The Secret Society for Slow Romance Discussion: 3:51 - 59:56Outro Music: 59:56 - 1:00:12————————————————————————————————————————————————————Show Links:Werewolf Ninja Philosopher (full movie streaming FREE during COVID-19 pandemic)Keep up with Sujewa's projects.Support Alia's creative endeavors and check out her latest album, I Breathe Apocalypse, on BandCamp.Listen to Mike Crowley's interview with Sujewa for You'll Probably Agree.————————————————————————————————————————————————————-Keep 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 goes on a super-secret mission with Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie and Emmanuel Noisette of EMan’s Movie Reviews! Their objective: make some sense out of Christopher Nolan’s virus-be-damned big-screen spectacle, Tenet!Spoiler Alert: They don’t succeed. But it’s a lot of fun talking about what they think is going on in this twisty, aurally-challenged loop-de-loop about a federal agent (John David Washington) who discovers a plot to destroy history by sending backwards-running objects into the past. This description may or may not be accurate; we’ll get back to you after the sixty-first viewing!Also, Ian teases an epic critics battle over Disney’s live-action Mulan, which you can watch right now exclusively on YouTube!Episode 579 needs a nap and some subtitles!Show Guide:In Summary: 0:00 - 0:10Intro Music: 0:10 - 0:24Intro: 0:24 - 3:50Tenet Trailer: 3:50 - 6:57Tenet Discussion: 6:57 - 52:52Outro Music: 52:52 - 53:21Keep 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 return with a towering black monolith of “Page2Screen” outrage as they review 2010! Arthur C. Clarke’s 2010: Odyssey Two is one of the guys’ favorite books. Peter Hyams’ film adaptation, The Year We Make Contact, however, is about as expensive and empty an interpretation as one could imagine.In this highly spoilerific exploration, Ian and Cole discuss the movie’s numerous missteps in terms of characterization, theme, and general spirit—with an emphasis on a couple of key components whose absence from the movie render the whole endeavor basically pointless.Episode 578 is sorry, but it cannot allow you to do that!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 3:492010 Trailer: 3:49 - 6:002010 Discussion: 6:00 - 1:17:46Outro Music: 1:17:46 - 1:18:01Keep 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 goes back to school with an "Accademia Giallo" course on Sergio Martino’s 1972 thriller, All the Colors of the Dark! Aaron Christensen of Horror 101 with Dr. A.C. and Bryan Martinez of the Film Deviant Podcast join Ian once again to unravel the mysteries of a woman who turns to an unorthodox method for dealing with loss—only to have her world turned upside down by stalkers, cultists, and nightmarish visions of torture, sex, and death.Does this film even qualify as “giallo”? What makes Edwige Fenech so damned amazing? And if this is just a child-free knock-off of Rosemary’s Baby—is that a bad thing? All these answers (and more) await!Also, Ian pays tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, and teases his latest appearance on to The Spoiler Room Podcast!Episode 577 believes that sex cults make lousy therapists!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 1:49Chadwick Boseman Tribute: 1:49 - 6:29Intro Ct’d: 6:29 - 8:40All The Colors of The Dark Trailer: 8:40 - 9:37All The Colors of The Dark Discussion: 9:37 - 1:09:00Outro Music: 1:09:00 - 1:09:16Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!