Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).
The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.
Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.
Examine how Helena, even when physically powerless, uses psychological and verbal dominance to challenge Nick’s authority.
Discuss Helena as the ultimate "object" of desire. By literally "boxing" her, Nick attempts to strip her of agency to fit his idealized version of a woman, transforming her into a living Venus de Milo . Boxing Helena
Analyze Dr. Nick Cavanaugh’s actions as a manifestation of unresolved childhood trauma related to his mother. The amputation of Helena's arms, triggered by her attempting to choke him, can be read as a symbolic response to his memories of maternal control. Examine how Helena, even when physically powerless, uses
For a paper on the 1993 film , you can explore its deep psychological layers, its controversial production history, or its polarized reception as a feminist or anti-feminist work. 1. Psychological & Psychoanalytic Themes Analyze Dr