Every 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 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 MoreIan Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel recently took a spin on Netflix to watch one of its chief awards season contenders. He sat down for Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, and William H. Macy. After seeing the film, he was intrigued by the 2011 source novella of the same name. I’ve veen lucky enough to read the book, so this was a good, comparative talk between myself, Ian, and Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree.
Read MoreIt took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that my 2022 review of the time travel romance Press Play was recently quoted and cited on the media site ComicBook.com. Staff Writer Allison Schonter wrote a piece about Press Play giving love to its at-the-time budding star (and now gilded Marvel Cinematic Universe hero) Lewis Pullman and the movie’s excellent soundtrack.
Read MoreIt took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that my 2012 review of Clint Eastwood’s simple and mild baseball film Trouble With the Curve was recently quoted and cited on the media site FandomWire. Senior Writer Diya Majumdar wrote a piece about Trouble With the Curve standing as clapback answer to Bennett Miller’s 2011 revered Moneyball and the style of statistically-centered baseball scouting it champions.
Read MoreIan Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel has enjoyed this chances to review physical media releases alongside new theatrical releases and classics. He and I are on the press list for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, which nets us some preview copies of many of their physical media offerings. For a new episode of Ian’s “Featured Extras” series, enjoy myself, Ian, and David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel appreciating the craftsmanship and speed of the Brad Pitt vehicle F1: The Movie.
Read MoreThe event featured fellow Canadian Ryan Reynolds holding court with a dais that included moderator Kevin McCarthy, Candy’s Chris, and special Chicago guest Jim Belushi. Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel also attended and invited me, David Fowlie of Kicking the Seat, and Cati Glidewell on The Blonde in Front to talk about the excellent film.
Read MoreAfter a two-month siesta thanks to the rigors of the teacher day job, I found myself back on the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel hosted by Ian Simmons. The cinephile world was set ablaze at the end of September with much-ballyhooed release of Paul Thomas Anderson’s new multi-genre opus One Battle After Another. The film has been enjoying all the recency bias and proclamations that it’s the best film of the year and the titan to beat at the Oscars.
Read MoreAs I have grown in press credentials and professional affiliations nationally, I have found myself landing in circles with other film critics of various levels. Recently, I was included in a poll for voting critics for Jordan Ruimy of World of Reel, a fellow Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. His survey was to collect picks for the best films of Steven Soderbergh from over 100 critics and other industry folk.
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