"Da Vinci Code" To Open Cannes

The Tom Hanks thriller "The Da Vinci Code" will open the Cannes Film Festival on May 17. Traditionally, the opening night film (like the Closing Night Film) is a dud, either some dull attempt to fulfill a French quota or just a dog hoping to piggyback on the attention of Cannes for a European debut. Cannes is trying to change that, opening 2005 with "Bad Education" and now this. I'll be there to tell you if it's a success. But director Ron Howard's Cannes track record certainly ain't good: he made his debut there with "Willow," and then returned with "Far and Away" and "Ed TV."