BIG WOW FOR JOHN YAU

There was a time, long before Covid and the fall of the publishing industry, when we trusted arts and culture critics to become our bearer of standards. Easiest example was film critic Pauline Kael. If the New Yorker pundit gave a thumbs-up, the movie was a sure bet you would not be bored or insulted.

I am a big fan of John Yau, a writer on our fave art site Hyperallergic. I read everything he writes. I like every artist he advocates. I trust his aesthetic. He's comfy.

Yeah, I'm a fan. And of course, we have fantasies. If ever I were to introduce Yau, like at an awards ceremony, I would not mention his many books, heavy awards and great works, evidenced by his lifelong CV. I think I would cut to a single example of my esteem. Something that says it all, simply.

At the podium, I would catch Anne Imhof's eye in the vast audience and give her a wink. She would touch the front of her throat, signaling me. I would straighten my bow tie. Then I would clear my throat and speak into the mic,

"There are many ways to introduce John Yau. (Pause.) To assign my highest regard of the man, I was watching "Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold," the Netflix documentary of the great American writer.

It is an intimate doc. There are several shots of Didion sitting on her bed, leaning against a headboard-bookcase. In one shot, the camera makes a fast pan to Ms. Didion. Along the way, we see a few book spines. One is a poetry book by John Yau.

It doesn't get better than that. Joan Didion read John Yau. That's all that needs to be said. Please, raise your hands as we award poet John Yau with the..."

I said, we all have fantasies, didn't I?

In this issue, we feature a selection of recent John Yau articles from Hyperallergic. Read a few. We'll start a fan club. We're rooting for you, John.

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RETHINK RAMEN

Um. We hate to spoil your blithe high, but a juggernaut headline caught our attention.

Armed with a BA in Economics from a bona fide university, I can wisely say with authority that 98% of economic prognostications are sheer fantasy and fiction.

This new economic headline is serious. Tighten your belts. Save the pennies. Rethink ramen. The rich have battened the hatches for rough weather. Worldwide, they're not spending.

Across international business news, we read, "LVMH Shares Tank By 8% As Luxury Sector Struggles To Recover." The family owned group of brands spells out Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. Their pay-to-play universe is crowded with the world's finest name brands. They are their own IP.

Their stock drop is significant. When the rich get pinched crazy, desperate things happen. Hang on.

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SPEAKING OF LAUGHS

It feels very dangerous. There is a teaser trailer for "I Love Boosters" out last week on our Formerly Known As Cinema site for a new work by Boots Riley of "I'm a Virgo" and "Sorry to Bother You" fame. The comedic plot and the vibe make me think of film director John Waters, another very dangerous individual.

"A crew of professional shoplifters take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven." The cast makes a very dangerous and promising combination; Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Don Cheadle, Demi Moore and best of all, LaKeith Stanfield.

Just a glance at Keke Palmer in character makes me laugh. She's trouble. Click Here for the trailer.

Speaking of Laughs... I got lucky and discovered a comedic gem from 2023. Last month was Netflix, and I forgot how quickly you can blow through their good stuff. In my vain search through their endless library, I kept passing on a 'high school lesbian fight club comedy.' The odds of success appeared to be very low. Bored relentlessly, with nearly a month left on the subscription, I finally gave in and clicked on "Bottoms."

Scaring people is easy. Making them laugh is nearly impossible. It takes great talent to earn a simple guffaw, let alone a great belly laugh. We know one of the lead actresses, Ayo Edebiri, from the chef show 'The Bear.' Every move and expression she makes are beautifully calculated. She is a true comedienne. Lucille Ball level.

Edebiri's performance flows around her co-star. Creating a Tasmanian Devil-like whirlwind, Rachel Sennott is out of this world, or out of her mind. And in all of this madness, both superstars create believable protagonists.

I reluctantly clicked 'play' on "Bottoms." I sat slack-jawed for the next half hour. I could not believe what I was seeing. Bravo! We're rooting for you gals... Trailer, Click Here

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