I've noticed something occurring more and more frequently when it comes to George Clooney: Many people don't seem to think a lot of the director-star of Leatherheads, which opens today. I've seen people get quite angry when people compare Clooney to a modern day Cary Grant. While I don't think Clooney is up to Grant's level, I don't think the comparison is that far off the mark either. Clooney does have quite a bit of Grant's presence and seemingly effortless charm, even if he lacks Cary's range. At first, I thought the dismissal of Clooney was limited mostly to men (a recent joke on the TV series Reaper had one character mention that if he was a cannibal, he'd eat Clooney because he hates him), but I've heard similar sentiments from women as well who question his abilities. I never watched him on ER, so I can't comment there, but when he tries to go serious (as in Syriana), the strain begins to show. I thought Michael Clayton was his best effort in that direction, but I've heard a lot of disagreement on that as well. Personally, I find the animosity odd, not because I'm a huge Clooney fan but because I don't have strong feelings one way or the other. When I think of actors of truly limited talents who got long stretches of free rides such as Kevin Costner but never generated nearly as much ridicule at the time, I find the Clooney hate a bit mind-boggling.