Back in December, I took my place among “Earth's Mightiest Critics” on Ian Simmons’ YouTube channel for Kicking the Seat to close out 2020 with the bizarre and divisive Wonder Woman 1984. Myself, Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews threw our lassos around the mixed back of a sequel. Enjoy our spoiler-packed round table digs into comics origins, missed opportunities, surprisingly effective heart-over-head moments, and the down side of politically charged comic-book movies.
Read MoreThe Feelin’ Film podcast hosted by Aaron White and Patrick Hicks cordially asked me to join in a deep and thoughtful review and conversation of 1997’s monumental Robert Zemeckis film Contact. It’s been a big personal favorite of mine for a long time and one I advertise and endorse heavily in social circles. The three of us muse on the implications and themes that come with the movie’s pendulum of unity and conflict between science and faith. Enjoy!
Read MoreBack in May, I joined Mike Crowley’s You’ll Probably Agree podcast with Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat and Pat McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com in discussing the state of movie theaters knee deep during this pandemic. Things looked brighter then. Now, six months later, with a spiking virus, streaming business moves, and conpanies closing or circling bankrupcies? Not so much. The four of us took to Mike’s YouTube channel recently to ponder the uncertain future. Enjoy this spirited conversation! I’m sure we’ll be doing it again soon.
Read MoreIn my social circles, I tend to be the “movie guy” that offer suggestions on what to see, both new and old, when it comes to movies. It’s a fun rarity when I get to do that with a fellow movie critic. With the arrival of the new Rebecca starring Lily James and Armie Hammer, it created an opportunity for friend Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast to watch both Netflix’s remake and the revered Alfred Hitchcock classic. I nudged him into this one and it made for a good conversation. We cover a bit of both of them here on his podcast and YouTube channel. Enjoy!
Read MoreFriend of the page Aaron White, co-host of the Feelin’ Film podcast and member of the Seattle Film Critics Society, has reignited his FF+ brand of smaller plate podcast episodes. His goal is to collect spoiler-free discussions of several current movies combined into one show. Rather than fly solo, he’s using his FF+ platform to invite other critics to share in the chat. For this episode, Aaron invited me with his usual co-host Patrick Hicks to fawn over Disney+’s Mulan. He sure didn’t have to twist my arm.
Read MoreThroughout 2020, I’ve had the pleasure of being invited on Ian Simmons’ website “Kicking the Seat” to contribute to his year-long “Reelpolitik” series. Leading up to the hotly anticipated national election this November, Ian has been pulling aside classic films that exemplify politics with possible parallels to our present state today. This school teacher loves to talk on that kind of level. For my fourth appearance, Ian and I dive deep into Elia Kazan’s A Face in the Crowd from 1957, a punchy political satire starring a then-little known Andy Griffith in a shocking role far different than his future career peaks. Enjoy our discussion in podcast and video forms below!
Read MoreWay back in March, Ian Simmons and I put some Skype video time on his “Kicking the Seat” channel to talk about the 1998 Disney animated film Mulan. The two of us thought we’d be seeing the new live-action re-imagining on the big screen in a matter of weeks. Well, then came the COVID pandemic. Niki Caro’s Mulan stood to be delayed indefinitely only to magically get tabbed as an extended PVOD option for this September. Ian and I jumped at the chance to finish the circle and we brought David Fowlie of “Keeping it Reel” to chime in as a third. Enjoy this YouTube presentation!
Read MoreFriend of the page Aaron White, co-host of the Feelin’ Film podcast and member of the Seattle Film Critics Society, has reignited his FF+ brand of smaller plate podcast episodes. His goal is to collect spoiler-free discussions of several current movies combined into one show. Rather than fly solo, he’s using his FF+ platform to invite other critics to share in the chat. For this episode, Aaron invited me with his usual co-host Patrick Hicks to fawn over Disney+’s Mulan. He sure didn’t have to twist my arm.
Read MoreFriend of the page Aaron White, co-host of the Feelin’ Film podcast and member of the Seattle Film Critics Society, has reignited his FF+ brand of smaller plate podcast episodes. His goal is to collect spoiler-free discussions of several current movies combined into one show. Rather than fly solo, he’s using his FF+ platform to invite other critics to share in the chat. For this episode, Aaron invited me to help cover the stunning documentary Desert One and the new Disney+ entry The One and Only Ivan. Enjoy!
Read MoreTwice now in the same month since a multi-month hiatus of scheduling, Ian Simmons was able to assemble the fabled “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” on his Kicking the Seat podcast for a brand new superhero film: Netflix’s Project Power. Myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews popped our pills with Ian to put our buzz into the exploits of Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Dominique Fishback. Enjoy our thorough podcast chat linked below via Stitcher!
Read MoreFor the first time since Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) and for the first time since the COVID-19 quarantine, Ian Simmons was able to assemble the fabled “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” on his Kicking the Seat podcast for a brand new comic book film. No, it’s not Black Widow from the MCU or Wonder Woman 1984 for the DCEU. Those ports are delayed and closed. We shine a light on the Netflix hitter The OId Guard based on Greg Rucka’s graphic novel that ran on the Image Comics imprint. Ian led myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews for a lively dais! For those keeping score, this was my 40th appearance on Ian’s program!
Read MoreThe VOD debut of Jon Stewart’s new comedy Irresistible starring Steve Carell and Rose Byrne set off an impromptu new release edition of Ian Simmons’s “Reelpolitik” series on his Kicking the Seat podcast. The two of us looked into all of the leg pulls and the rug pulls to find and enjoy all the ways Stewart pointed fingers at parties to blame and mirrors at those that need to see those mentalities. Ian and I found this one to be a hoot and we hope it finds the right open minds and welcome audiences. Enjoy our thorough podcast chat linked below!
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