Every now and then you run into a movie that carries a level of profundity that it’s genuinely beautiful to get the chance to talk to other people who see the same importance and impact. Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel saw one of those such movies, and it was one that I—and many others—have become over the moon for. The movie in question is The Life of Chuck, the latest Stephen King adaptation from filmmaker Mike Flanagan.
Read MoreWith the 20th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Mike Crowley of the You’ll Probably Agree website was very eager to talk about the blockbuster’s legacy. He, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and I ignite our lightsabers and reminisce about the best George Lucas’s prequel finale had to offer. Time has been kind to the movie and so were we. May The Force Be With You!
Read MoreI don’t mind being part of “game recognizing game.” Film Threat editor-in-chief (and fellow Critics Choice Association member) Alan Ng and his friend Chris Gore held an episode of “Alan’s Corner” on the publication’s YouTube channel discussing the Rotten Tomatoes reviews for Thunderbolts and the backlash to Alan’s own negative-skewing review. At around the 5:16 mark, Film Obsessive any my blurb get a namedrop and mention.
Read MoreDirector Ryan Coogler is on to something. That man is a hot streak, not only as an artist, but as an innovator of storytelling and filmcraft. Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel is on to something too with his own genius to assmble, as always, Earth’s Mightiest Critics. Last week, he brought on-camera guests to talk about the big spring hit Sinners. I pleased as punch to join Ian, Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists, Mark Krawczyk of the Spoiler Room, and Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front, to talk about it.
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 the 1950s from over 120 critics and other industry folk.
Read MoreMike Osborn and Curtis Menke of the irreverent and laugh-filled podcast “Let’s Talk About Flix are weekly appointment laughs for me and pod I support on Patreon. Mike and Curtis have become two full members of the Chicago Indie Critics group that I co-direct. For the second year in a row, I was honored to be asked on as the return guest during their “Patreon Picks” month. For that guest’s choice theme, I brought them 2018’s The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot starring Sam Elliot. Enjoy our chat! Follow their show on podcast platforms and YouTube!
Read MoreEvery year, there seems to be one (or more) big Oscar contender that completely misses my heart, mind, and understanding. I see them and I don’t understand their universal acclaim and often-overinflated hype. For 2024, the highest of those movies is The Brutalist, starring Best Actor Oscar frontrunner Adrien Brody. He is excellent, but the rest of the movie is not. I was chuffed enough to go on the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel hosted by Ian Simmons to speak on it.
Read MoreAs so often has happened for me, critics meet other critics in virtual places creating a little network of acquaintances and cheerleaders for fellow creative people. I met William Eguizabal of FilmSnobReviews years ago and we hit it off with or similar clashing styles of expertise mixed with saltiness when necessary. William recently invited me back as a guest for his “Snob Cast” podcast with his multi-talented co-host Chai Simone. This time the topic was gangster and organized crime movies where the panel chose many diverse favorites.
Read MoreDebuting in the darkest recesses of multiplexes and arthouse theaters this week is Robert Eggers’s monochromatic remake of Nosferatu, paying homage to the 1922 German silent film he and many others love dearly. Ian was ready to talk about it. So, for the special holiday, yours truly appeared as “Santa Critic” from “The North Pole of Elmwood Park” and joined Ian, Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists, Annie Banks of The Mary Sue, The Blonde in Front’s Cati Glidewell, and Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree for the dais.
Read MoreAfter months (and maybe years) of souring tastes and more-than-occasional red-assed disdain, Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel found a movie that actually knocked his socks off and entered his pantheon of all-time favorites. The hard part was he had to go back 65 years to a blind spot to find it. Hey, that counts as better late than never. The movie is question and celebration is Alfred Hitchcock’s mistaken identity thriller North by Northwest from 1959. The Cary Grant vehicle drew an assembly of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” in the form of Ian, myself, Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists, Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions, and the KTS on-camera debut of The Last Drive-In’s Joe Randazzo. Enjoy this talkative manhunt flick!
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 the 2020s so far from over 120 critics and other industry folk. I was honored to chime in with my top five selections to be included with some very high professional company.
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