With reports indicating that George Clooney's Leatherheads will have a disappointing opening weekend, a healthy "debate" has developed in the comments at Hollywood Elsewhere. The basic questions: Is George Clooney really as big a movie star as the media makes him out to be? Does he really connect with Middle America in the same way that his pals Matt Damon and Brad Pitt do? He's an Oscar winner and very talented, but his biggest blockbusters have been the Ocean's films, with runners-up The Perfect Storm and Batman & Robin (but those two are over a decade old).

All "huge" movie stars have duds, even in their prime. I mean, Burt Reynolds was one of the biggest stars in the world from '75 to the early 80s and does anyone remember Paternity? Stroker Ace? Harrison Ford had Regarding Henry, Frantic and The Mosquito Coast, all within 5 years. Also, I take issue with the idea that box office draw is all that determines a movie star. IMHO, there's no question his a HUGE movie star.

It's not that he isn't allowed to have flops... it's just that he hasn't proven that he can "open" a movie all by himself. All his hits mentioned were either ensemble pieces or based on popular properties. Plus, Burt Reynolds and Harrison Ford had massive hits alone before their string of duds.

I think Clooney is positioned and portrayed as a huge movie star to certain demographics, while the majority of the nation doesn't seem to care about who is he or the movies he makes.

There's no denying he's very talented and that he picks good work. There's also no denying that he lacks the marquee value of a Will Smith or Tom Hanks.