Diving into the physical media front, Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel sought to cover Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 classic Boogie Nights. Several critics, including myself and Ian, received the new 4K-UHD disc edition of the film and took that opportunity to talk as cleanly as possible for YouTube censors, PTA’s ins-and-outs of the 1970s and 1980s porn scene of southern California.
Read MoreLess would have been more, and less was already enough with The Dutchman. The movie never had to leave the train or the topics unleashed there. The originally intended inescapable struggle is demystified the moment it treads away from it. Worse, by leaving and constantly pointing at the fact that the very theatrical setting exists and supposedly still looms large, it negates what made it powerful and great in the first place.
Read MoreIt took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a quote of mine on the excellent 2005 Joe Wright film Pride and Prejuduce was recently cited on the media site Daily Mail UK. Showbiz report Emma Guinness wrote a piece to cover the film’s streaming status on Netflix and used it as the crux of the headline.
Read MoreEvery now and then for the big new releases, Rotten Tomatoes will collect the tip-of-the-spear “first reviews” and highlight them in an editorial news column piece. If I can get my work in fast enough and it gets noticed, I have the chance of being selected and included in these round-up features. Recently, I was cited for Anaconda.
Read MoreEvery week, Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel is looking for something like that, and he sure found one this week, just in time for Christmas. The movie in question is the crowd-pleasing, toe-tapping, and heart-moving Song Sung Blue, the musical biopic—not of Neil Diamond—but of a Wisconsin-based Neil Diamond tribute band starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.
Read MoreIt took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a quote of mine was used by the Sky Cinema Railyard location in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They are currently advertising a special showing of the 2015 action epic Mad Max: Fury Road.and used my blurb from Rotten Tomatoes. They didn’t ask for my permission, but I don’t mind. Thanks for the reference and clicks!
Read MoreIt took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a quote of mine on the sumptuous 2005 Joe Wright film Pride and Prejuduce was recently cited on the media site Metro. TV reporter Charlotte Minter wrote a piece to cover the film’s streaming status on Netflix and how it would be perfect for home viewing during the Christmas holiday.
Read MoreFor their 221st episode, two football fan critics, two sobbing dads, and two motivated teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, enjoy a little corner of football while the NFL season is chugging towards the playoffs. The two venture in the realm of a classic TV movie with Brian's Song, starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Both of our hosts have personal connections to the college it was filmed at, which the Chicago Bears used to call their training camp home for decades. Come learn more and stay for the mutual love and respect that fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!
Read MoreFor their 220th episode, two bare-chested critics, two archeologist dads, and two whip-cracking teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, take an expedition back to the great cinematic and cultural milestone year of 1984 to cover the sequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Everyone involved, from filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas to the game cast of Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, and Ke Huy Quan. Come eat all the weird palace foods with us and stay for the mutual love and respect that fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!
Read MoreIan Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel was among the Chicago press who got the chance to see James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash multiple weeks early. Since he (and the rest of us for that matter) didn’t want to completely forget a completely forgettable movie, Ian assembled “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” to pre-record a “live” roundtable for the movie’s big release this weekend. Enjoy Ian, myself, Jeff York of The Establishing Shot, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, and Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front talking about all things ashy and blue.
Read MoreIan Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel kept finding his movie spins on Netflix this month with the awards season in full swing. Following up Train Dreams, he stepped into the Hollywood-adoring spotlight of Jay Kelly, the comedy on aged stardom from Marriage Story director Noah Baumbach. Thanks to some critic perks, I have been lucky to chase a few of the stars of Jay Kelly at a Netflix press junket last month. I bring those tales and my own fandom to Ian’s channel.
Read MoreFor their 219th episode, two ensign film critics, two battle-tested dads, and two admiral-ranked teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, know damn well that the needs of the many outweigh the need of the few. They put their show through their own Kobayashi Maru because disliking the 1982 classic Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a no-win situation to anyone who tries. That means our hosts passed with flying colors and put forth a great show of celebration that could regrow and podcast-listening ear like a Genesis missle.
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