The New York Times calls it a journal and the rest of the world might call it a blog...but whatever its name, NYT critics Manhola Dargis and A.O. Scott are offering daily dispatches from Cannes in a nicely done special online section covering the festival. We spotted the dynamic duo at the "Last Days" party last night and proposed an iPOP shot, Dargis declined admitting that she is shy and reminded that she doesn't even have her photo posted on the Times own site, next to those of her fellow film critics.

Dargis and Scott seem to be struggling slightly with their role as bloggers (or journal keepers), but at least they are honest about it. "Tony Scott" (as many insiders refer to him) mentions that he reserves the right to revise his opinions of films, outside of the fest frenzy, while in a post today Dargis resists giving too much of an opinion on Atom Egoyan's latest, for fear of hurting its distribution chances:

With its narrative and sexual kinks, its surreal interludes and seedy entertainment types, the film has invited comparison to "Mulholland Drive." I'm leery of writing more because I don't think the film has distribution and I don't feel comfortable bringing the weight of this paper into the mix at this point.

Maybe I'll change my mind later.