Kicking the Seat

Today, The Kicking the Seat Podcast and Cole Rush of The Quill to Live throw another birthday party for Harry Potter with a “Page2Screen” look at The Prisoner of Azkaban! Alfonso Cuaron’s 2004 film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s third HP novel is widely regarded as a highlight of the series. When our hero returns to Hogwarts at age thirteen, he discovers more secrets about his family’s past, while dodging a fanatical Voldemort acolyte who’s just escaped from a maximum-security wizard prison.This book and movie represent a turning point for Ian, who takes exception to the liberties with which the filmmakers approached their translation. He and Cole talk through the omissions to determine whether or not a feature film could have sustained all of the novel’s richly textured supporting details to the main action.And, yes, the guys touch on the recent controversy surrounding Rowling’s comments about the Transgender community, with some takes that may surprise you.Also, Ian reviews Ron Howard’s harrowing new documentary, Rebuilding Paradise, and tells you about Varèse Sarabande’s newly released, limited-edition CD of the Dracula 2000 soundtrack!Note: Here are links to the posts that Ian and Cole reference during the J.K. Rowling controversy discussion:Glamour Timeline of J.K. Rowling Controversy:https://www.glamour.com/story/a-complete-breakdown-of-the-jk-rowling-transgender-comments-controversyJ.K Rowling Blog Post Re: Trans Activism (referenced in Glamour article): https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/Episode 566 is a simple kind of podcast!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:05Rebuilding Paradise Review: 2:05 - 4:16Intro (Ct’d): 4:16 - 6:10Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Trailer: 6:10 - 7:56Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Discussion: 7:56 - 1:21:45Outro Music: 1:21:45 - 1:22:01Keep 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 wakes up Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree for a tenth-anniversary review of Inception! The first time Ian saw Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster dream-heist fantasy starring Leonardo DiCaprio, his reaction was, let’s say, less than favorable.How does it hold up a decade later? And what’s the latest with its would-be sequel, Tenet? And who’s right in the whole cockamamie “mask” debate?This installment has more wild tangents than a fever dream! Also, Ian invites you to check out the latest episode of The Spoiler Room Podcast, in which he talks about the bizarre, star-studded gun-control satire, All the Rage (he also shills a bit for the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel—to which you should definitely subscribe!).Episode 565 lets the spice flow!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 4:09Inception Trailer: 4:09 - 6:25Inception Discussion: 6:25 - 1:08:50Outro Music: 1:08:50 - 1:09:05Keep 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 actor Jeremy Allen White, star of the sensational new thriller, The Rental. White, who rose to fame on Showtime’s ensemble drama, Shameless, plays one of four young lovebirds whose secluded weekend retreat turns into a nightmare of relationship drama and sinister forces watching their every move.White talks with Ian about finding the character with first-time feature director Dave Franco and co-writer Joe Swanberg, and staying creative in an era of shuttered studios and limited personal contact.The Rental is now available on demand, and is opening at over 250 drive-ins across America. Chicagoans can catch the film at the Music Box Theatre during a limited engagement, starting today (and be sure to check out Richard Roeper’s RogerEbert.com essay about how the historic venue is welcoming back patrons, even as most theatres remain dark).Also, Ian reviews The Rental; recommends Criterion’s excellent new Marriage Story Blu-ray; and plugs the latest episode of You’ll Probably Agree—in which he presents a robust defense of 2019’s Cats!Episode 564 isn’t camera-shy!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 1:25The Rental Review: 1:25 - 3:54Marriage Story Blu-ray Review: 4:44 - 7:18Intro (Ct’d): 7:18 - 9:11The Rental Trailer: 9:11 - 11:07Jeremy Allen White Interview: 11:07 - 26:29Outro Music: 26:29 - 26:44Keep 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 goes for extra credit with an "Accademia Giallo" look at A Bay of Blood! We began this series with a look at Mario Bava’s stylish 1964 thriller, Blood and Black Lace. Seven years later, the director debuted what many consider to be the prototypical stalk-’n-slash movie—which, thanks to a plot that even the experts need a chart to decipher, still places it firmly in the giallo realm of murder-mystery. Joining Ian to talk about all the carnage and convolutions are Aaron Christensen of Horror 101 with Dr. A.C. and Bryan Martinez of the Facebook video series The Giallo Room!The guys step through Bava’s filmography, and what A Bay of Blood represented for the genre; debate whether there’s any merit to the rumors that Sean S. Cunningham “paid tribute” to the film with Friday the 13th; and also talk about Bryan’s awesome new movie podcast, Film Deviant!Lastly Ian returns to The Spoiler Room Podcast to dress down The Mod Squad with Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk! It’s the latest installment of Mark’s year-long "52 Degrees K.B." project, in which he reviews fifty-two films with various connections--all winding their way back to Kevin Bacon!Episode 563 is the double-impalement of podcasts!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 4:01A Bay of Blood Trailer: 4:01 - 6:55A Bay of Blood Discussion: 6:55 - 1:18:15Outro Music: 1:18:15 - 1:18:30Keep 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 use their considerable mind powers to crack open Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood! Their year-long exploration of all things Jason has finally brought them to the slasher series’ detour into downright bizarre territory—with the Crystal Lake Killer squaring off against a troubled teenage psychic.From casting to cuts (the MPAA kind) to the highly anticipated franchise box set that Scream Factory announced this week, the guys leave no head left un-severed!Also, Ian reviews the new Australian drama, Dirt Music, ; challenges you to play the new online game based on The Old Guard (with a chance to win an “Immortal” Netflix subscription); and invites you to listen to him and Mike Crowley reminisce about Batman ‘89 on the latest episode of You’ll Probably Agree !Episode 562 barely sweats at all!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:39Dirt Music Review 2:39- 4:27Intro (Ct’d): 4:27- 5:43Friday the 13th: The New Blood Trailer: 5:43 - 7:05Friday the 13th: The New Blood Discussion: 7:05- 1:20:20Outro Music: 1:20:20- 1::20:35Keep 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 Danielle Solzman of Solzy at the Movies for a “Reelpolitik” look at Mr. Smith Goes to Washington! Frank Capra’s 1939 dramedy stars Jimmy Stewart as a wide-eyed interim senator whose illusions are shattered on the crooked steps of Washington, DC. Ian and Danielle delve into the iconic movie’s history; touch on its relevance in today’s charged political climate; and detour into some of the Old Hollywood biographies Danielle has been reading during lockdown.Also, Ian recommends Danielle’s written review of the film; teases about the latest episode of The Spoiler Room Podcast; and tells you how to participate in the After Hours Film Society’s first-ever Zoom Q&A—hosted by Keeping it Reel’s David Fowlie!*Episode 561 is full of hooey!Show Guide:Mr. Smith Goes Off on Washington: 0:00 - 2:11Intro Music: 2:11 - 2:25Intro: 2:25 - 6:50Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Trailer: 6:50 - 8:31Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Discussion: 8:31 - 57:37Outro Music: 57:37 - 57:53Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!*As mentioned in the intro, to join David’s Botero discussion, simply rent the movie from Film Movement Plus—then send an email to [email protected] with the Subject Line “BOTERO Zoom”. A representative will send you a secure Zoom link for the Monday night Q&A.

Today, The Kicking the Seat Podcast and Cole Rush of The Quill to Live untangle twenty-five years of The Usual Suspects!In this lively “Late Screening”, Ian falls (a bit) out of love with Bryan Singer’s Oscar-winning crime thriller; Cole questions the motivations of the film’s shadowy mastermind; and both cinephiles revisit the age-old problem of separating art from artists—especially in regards to Suspects’ highly…um, suspect director and star!Also, Ian reviews the new Hulu comedy, Palm Springs, starring Andy Samberg and Cristina Milioti!Episode 560 is Keyser Söze!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:26Palm Springs Review: 0:26 - 4:48Intro (Ct’d): 4:48 - 5:25The Usual Suspects Trailer: 5:25 - 7:27The Usual Suspects Discussion: 7:27 - 1:00:13:Outro Music: 1:00:13 - 1:00:28Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!*Here’s a link to the USA Today article Ian references in the intro.

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast reunites with Earth’s Mightiest Critics to review Netflix’s new comic-book movie, The Old Guard! Charlize Theron stars as the head of a tight-knit band of immortal mercenaries who find themselves targeted by a nefarious millionaire.Joining Ian to break down the good, the bad, and the tiresome are Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie, Emmanuel Noisette of EMan’s Movie Reviews, and Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson. The opinions fly fast and furious in this spoiler-filled discussion, so definitely watch The Old Guard first—or regret it forever!Also, Ian reviews the new supernatural thriller, Relic, which is now available On Demand and on the big screen at the Music Box Theatre this weekend!Episode 559 is a brooding, ass-kicking, alcoholic lone wolf!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 1:49Relic Review: 1:49 - 4:01Intro (Ct’d): 4:01 - 5:07The Old Guard Trailer: 5:07 - 7:47The Old Guard Discussion: 7:47 - 1:13:48Outro Music: 1:13:48 - 1:14:04Keep 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 the filmmakers behind the new Netflix documentary, Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado. For decades, the Puerto Rican astrologer beamed into homes around the globe with his flamboyant TV personality—until one day, he abruptly disappeared from the spotlight.Ian caught up with co-directors Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch, and producer Alex Fumero to get the inside story of what it was like to meet a towering figure from their youth; to unpack the mystery behind his sudden departure; and to share the struggles and surprises of getting this film made.Also, Ian reviews Jared Barel’s new middle-age-rock-’n-roll-crisis comedy, The Incoherents and invites you to watch the video version of his Mucho Mucho Amor interview!Episode 558 sees great joy in your future!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:12The Incoherents Review: 2:12 - 3:46Intro (Ct’d): 3:46 - 4:51Mucho Mucho Amor Trailer: 4:51 - 6:40Mucho Mucho Amor Discussion: 6:40 - 40:37Outro Music: 40:37 - 40:53Keep 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 Amir Motlagh to discuss his latest film, Three Eleven! In this era of pandemics and social unrest, Motlagh and co-writer Charles Borg turn inward, focusing on a family sheltering-in-place as the world around them becomes unrecognizable.The guys discuss the origins of this meditative, short-form slice of slow cinema, as well as the logistics of producing a film during lockdown, and the unexpected hurdle that made completing it a challenge.Three Eleven is available now to rent or buy on Vimeo.Also, Ian invites you to listen to the latest episode of The Spoiler Room Podcast, in which he discusses Telling Lies in America with Mark “The Movie Man” Krawczyk!Episode 557 is just counting the days!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 3:13Three Eleven Trailer: 3:13 - 4:16Three Eleven Discussion: 4:16 - 1:06:07Outro Music: 1:06:07 - 1:06:22Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!