Cannes openers.

The "point and the glory" of Cannes, write Manohla Dargis and AO Scott in the New York Times, is that it has always "mingled the lofty and the crass with particular Gallic flair."

In the Guardian, Xan Brooks launches a Cannes diary and Fiachra Gibbons talks with Ken Loach about The Wind that Shakes the Barley.

Kenneth Turan opens the special section in the Los Angeles Times. More special sections: indieWIRE and Cinematical; the Guardian, Variety and the Hollywood Reporter.

Grady Hendrix has the latest on the Summer Palace brouhaha. Related: Dave Kehr hears the Chinese are confiscating and burning promotional brochures for Johnnie To's Election 2. "The apparent reason: To's 'director's statement,' in which he draws a parallel between the fictional Triad power struggle he depicts and Chinese politics."

In Cahiers du cinéma, Jean-Michel Frodon reflects on the festival's selection process and Emmanuel Burdeau reviews Pedro Almodóvar's Volver.

Mike D'Angelo has begun rating the offerings.

Anthony Kaufman's got a list: "[H]ere's hoping some of these nine films will turn out as good as they sound on paper."

Matt Dentler's been snapping shots.

The Telegraph's David Gritten is blogging from the fest.

Eugene Hernandez and Brian Brooks file a first Market Daily report at indieWIRE.

Filmz.de rounds up coverage in German.

Online browsing tip. Magnum Cannes photos at Slate.

Online listening tip. The Guardian launches its Arts & Entertainment podcast and the very first edition has Xan Brooks and Claire Armistead previewing the festival.

Posted by dwhudson at May 17, 2006 4:15 PM