Wank of the weekend - Christopher Goodwin

As if we didn't have enough pseudo-intellectual wankers of our own, today the Sunday Times (£) "Kultchah" section has a cover story by this LA-based poser. He could, of course, be a transplant - he certainly sounds like a typical Brit journopuke.

It's a shame the article is behind a paywall, because I really can't be bothered to transcribe more than a few lowlights: 

For anyone over about 25 [1], movie-going has become an astonishingly dispiriting experience. . . . The inescapable truth is that American cinemas, one of the great cultural achievements of the 20th century [2], has reached a nadir. . . . The studios also point at least one finger of blame at adult audiences, who, they claim, simply don't go to the cinema as much as they once did [3] . . . . The British - whose cinemas, at least, can be relied on to screen worthwhile [4] indigenous films and the occasional subtitled hit from Europe and East Asia. Boxed first spread: In 1993 only 1 of the year's top 10 highest grossing movies was a kids' film; in 2009 it was 8 out of 10 [5]. Boxed second spread: an analysis of why middle budget films lose money [6]

1. Since the main thrust of the article is that the film-going public is now predominantly adolescent, it seems maturity takes a while to arrive in LA . . .
2. Clearly he meant cinema; as written it suggests that the tacky movie theatres were a great cultural achievement. But even going with what I think he meant, that is an astonishingly grandiose claim. 
3. Blame? It's called technological change, arsehole. No doubt music hall nostalgics once said the same about movies.
4. For which read state-subsidised.
5. D'you suppose it might be because kids' movies make money? Gosh, there's a thought.
6. D'you suppose that might explain why middle budget films are finding it difficult to attract commercial backing? Gosh, there's another thought.