We Are All Doomed

I just took in the animated short films that have been nominated for the Oscar at Tempe's Valley Art Harkins Theater, and while Logorama is by far the most daring, Poland's The Kinematograph is the most emotionally compelling. Most of these short films exploit death to elicit an emotional response, but The Kinematograph actually retains an universal life lesson, as well -- with an allegorical homage to the power of film itself.

This Dr. Doom adorned Phoenix New Times stand greets attendees outside of that particular movie theater, one of the successful entries from the paper's decorate-a-stand contest this year. Its inscription parallels the animated shorts' shared, consistent theme: we're all doomed. Yet, if your life is an animated one, it might be worth it.