I am beginning to worry that America is suffering needlessly from a bad case of tunnel vision.

It seems that Anakin Skywalker’s weekend income compared to Peter Parker’s is headline news every night. Even CNN has succumbed to focusing its main showbiz news on the pointless box office race between these two films.

Headlines containing such senseless analogies as “‘Clones’ knock ‘Spider-Man’ from perch” (CNN.com) and “‘Star Wars’ earned $116 million over four days - not enough to top ‘Spider-Man’” (ew.com) are simply too repetitive - and very annoying.

What bothers me, though, is not the fact that media are focusing so much attention on the money race between these blockbusters - it is obvious, and I understand the so-called “race” makes for good news - but, it is the fact the same story is always second. The same entertainment article is consistently labeled as not-as-important.

Since when does the Cannes Film Festival come in second?

Since when do movies everyone has seen get more press than the films no one has?

These are the reasons why Hollywood is slowly dying.

Anyway, let me get to the point of this column. My intention was not to complain more about “Star Wars” or “Spider-Man” or any of the numerous other big hit flicks that seem to forget film is an art; it was to shed light upon a little beach on the coast of a certain foreign country called France.

Now, I’ll attempt to make this simple. Almost every year since 1946 the Cannes Film Festival has captivated a select audience with showings of some of the best new films available, and graced their creators with the utmost recognition.

But, please do not misunderstand, this is not just a weeklong MTV Movie Awards ceremony. Cannes is definitely not Hollywood. The two best movies there are not “Star Wars” and “Spider-Man.”

It is not in the festival’s character to make a carbon copy of whatever cinematic issues that are going on in Hollywood. And although George Lucas’s “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones” is showing at the event, it is not in competition. And as for good ol‘ Spidey, no one invited him.

According to the festival’s official Web site, “The spirit of the Festival de Cannes is one of friendship and universal cooperation. Its aim is to reveal and focus attention on works of quality in order to contribute to the progress of the motion picture arts and to encourage the development of the film industry throughout the world.”

Could they have a better mission statement? I don’t think so.

I also don’t think even half of you have seen a Cannes Film Festival award-winner. Do you think you have? Do you even know?

Have you ever seen “Mulholland Dr.,” “Fargo” or “The Ice Storm?” Have you ever heard of Kar-wai Wong? I hope so, and if you haven’t, watch the movies and read about the directors. Make an attempt to culture yourself.

Now, guess what? You can start doing all of this right now. Do not Pay attention to the news, pay attention to Cannes. Pay attention to what is showing there, because it is almost guaranteed the top films at the festival will be some of the best new movies within the next year.

Can anyone say “Punch-Drunk Love?”

If you think Cory Vowell, the State News movie critic, is full of himself, and you know what “Punch-Drunk Love” is, e-mail him at vowellco@msu.edu.