You-review-it Monday (+ Oscars)

Catch any of the three Ps this weekend (“Proof” at TOTS, “The Piano Lesson” at the IRT, or Pilobolus at Clowes Hall)? Get to the Indianapolis Art Center or the Symphony?

Or just groggy from watching the Oscars?

Whatever the case, let us know what you saw or experienced.

Me, I attended two of the aforementioned Ps (plus a side trip to “West Side Story” at Beef & Boards). More on those in an upcoming review column.

Of course, I also was parked in front of last night’s awards.

Some Oscar thoughts:

            * I’m a fan of context, but there were way too many clips. I tuned in to watch this award show, not past award shows. Loved the tribute to binoculars and telescopes montage, though.

            * Not to sound prudish, but did we need to start off with a sex joke?

            * That being said, Jon Stewart did a terrific job.

            * Are we really supposed to be in awe of a well-paid writing team coming up with all of the presenter banter in only eight days (or whatever it was)? It’s a good gig. There’s lots of material to work with. There’s really no excuse for it to be anything but solid.

            * Nice to see some of the work screened at the Heartland Film Festival and Indianapolis International Film Festival earn nominations.

            * Really cool of “The Bee Movie’s” bee to show up and present an award even though his flick wasn’t even nominated for Best Animated Feature. Class act.

            * Major points earned for the decision-maker who brought back the songwriter whose speech was cut off by the only-following-orders orchestra.

            * Any way a ban on complaints/jokes about the length of the show? Like the Super Bowl, it is what it is. You know going in its going to be at least three hours. Deal with it.

* Most importantly, perhaps this year there will be top contenders that audiences feel passionate about. I’m not suggesting the categories dumb down, but do you really know anyone besides major film-as-film geeks who were rooting hard for last year’s “The Departed” vs. “Babel” battle or this year’s “No Country for Old Men” vs. “There Will Be Blood” contest?

I didn’t have a dog in either of those fights and I don’t know anyone who did. And, in the case of the winners, it feels like terrific filmmakers are being celebrated for their fifth or sixth best films, not their truly memorable, worth re-watching work.

Your thoughts?