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If a celebrity isn't publicized, does he really exist? Two newmovies force the question.

"Tropic Thunder" opened Wednesday, and although Ben Stiller, RobertDowney Jr., and Jack Black are the names listed above the title,the performance everyone is talking about - the only performancethat earned applause after a recent screening - was Tom Cruise'sextended cameo as the monstrously porcine studio executive LesGrossman. printing

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" opens today, and while the faces on thescreen are those of the very bankable Scarlett Johansson,Penélope Cruz, and Javier Bardem, many people will beastounded by the fact that it's Woody Allen's most engaging moviein years, better even than his overrated "Match Point." (Granted,my colleague Wesley Morris is less enthusiastic. Everybody's acritic.)

Here's the catch: Judging by the publicity for both films, you'dhave no idea that Cruise is in "Thunder" or that Allen wrote anddirected "Vicky." The former's name and face appear nowhere in thetrailers, poster, or on the promotional website for the $100million comedy-action blockbuster, and while Allen does get acredit for making his movie, it's in teeny-tiny letters at thebottom of the "Vicky" poster and at the end of the trailer. (He'smore of a presence on the film's website, but only after you getpast the homepage.)