Well, it wasn't just one suspect in this case, it was a conspiracy. CGI, film-critic geekdom (don't forget the failed-artist haters who flame every movie on their blog for not being existential enough), and the sheer abundance of both movies and A-listers have devalued the prestige of movie stardom. Indeed, the cult of celebrity and tabloid journalism were also there, as you can't glamorize someone when every sordid detail of their life comes out, often fueled by the stars' own egos and the notion that they can do no wrong (see Spears, Lohan, and others). And technology, the Internet and cable TV have given us many more entertainment options so going to the movies is no longer a given--particularly now that production costs have gotten so huge they need absolutely insane turnout to break even.

Also of note is that a lot of movies just aren't entertaining anymore. In the golden age of cinema, that's all that mattered--good characters, fun plot, you had a winner. Seems now the screenwriters are more interested in being 'relevant' and making sure the movies have some deep psychological meaning or something, but many just come off preachy or boring.

Good list. But if McCain is smart he'll pick someone off the radar (pardon the pun) who hasn't pissed off conservatives who may stay home rather than vote for a liberal Republican, and who's young and eloquent enough to give Obama a run for his money in the all important battle of looking good on TV. Gingrich would be a great pick, except he apparently hates McCain and most other prominent Republicans right now.