Images: Oscar winners and show bits
The long take of “Birdman” has stretched all the way to the Academy Awards, where the jazzy, surreal comedy about an actor fleeing his superhero past, took Hollywood's top honor in a ceremony punctuated by passionate pleas for equality.
On a stormy night in Hollywood, the 87th annual Academy Awards — which came in humbled by backlash to its all-white acting nominees — bristled with politics and heartfelt speeches about women's rights, immigration, suicide prevention and race.
In a battle of B-movies for best picture, the Oscars awarded “Birdman” best picture, opting for a movie that epitomizes much of Hollywood — showy, ego-mad, desperate for artistic credibility — over one (“Boyhood”) that prized naturalism and patience. “Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” also won best director for Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, best original screenplay and best cinematography.
“Maybe next year the government will inflict immigration restrictions,” said Innaritu, recalling last year's best director winner, Alfonso Cuaron. “Two Mexicans in a row. That's suspicious, I guess.”
Inarritu, a larger-than-life figure of frizzy hair, regularly wrapped in a scarf, concluded the night's many moving speeches that called for societal change. Innaritu said he prays his native country finds “a government we deserve” and that immigrants to the U.S. “can be treated with the same dignity and the respect of the ones who came before and (built) this incredible immigrant nation.”
The ceremony, hosted by Tony Award veteran Neil Patrick Harris, was heavy on song-and-dance to near-Grammy levels, perhaps headlined by Lady Gaga lavishly performing “The Hills are Alive” from “The Sound of Music” with Julie Andrew looking on.
Host Neil Patrick Harris performs at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
J.K. Simmons, left, and Lupita Nyong'o are seen from backstage as he accepts the award for best actor in a supporting role for "Whiplash" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Questlove, right, performs at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Liam Neeson, left, and J.K. Simmons talk backstage at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Kerry Washington, from left, and Jason Batemen present Mat Kirkby and James Lucas with the award for best live action short film for "The Phone Call" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Mat Kirkby, left, and James Lucas accept the award for best live action short film for "The Phone Call" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Viola Davis speaks at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Dana Perry, left, and Ellen Goosenberg Kent accept the award for best short subject documentary for "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
J.K. Simmons accepts the award for best actor in a supporting role for "Whiplash" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Reese Witherspoon presents the award for achievement in makeup and hairstyling at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Frances Hannon, left, and Mark Coulier accept the award for best makeup and hairstyling for ìThe Grand Budapest Hotelî at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Jennifer Lopez, left, and Chris Pine present the award for best costume design at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Milena Canonero accepts the award for best costume design for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Adam Levine performs "Lost Stars" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Common, left, and John Legend pose in the press room with the award for best original song in a feature film for "Glory" from "Selma" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Matthew McConaughey, right, presents Julianne Moore with the award for best actress in a leading role at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Julianne Moore accepts the award for best actress in a leading role for "Still Alice" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Nancy Carell, from left, Steve Carell, and Clint Eastwood talk in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Julianne Moore poses in the press room with the award for best actress in a leading role for her work on ìStill Alice" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Michael Keaton, left, and Sean Douglas stand in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Michael Keaton, left, and Alejandro G. Inarritu, and the cast and crew of "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" accept the award for the best picture at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Dirk Wilutzky, from left, Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald accept the award for best documentary feature for "Citizenfour" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Chris Williams, from left, Roy Conli and Don Hall pose backstage with their award for best animated feature film for "Big Hero 6" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Host Neil Patrick Harris performs at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
David Oyelowo, second from left, and Oprah Winfrey, right, congratulate Common, left, and John Legend, second from right, after they won the award for best original song in a feature film for "Glory" from "Selma" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Jennifer Hudson performs at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Tom Cross accepts the award for best film editing for "Whiplash" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Neil Patrick Harris is seen from backstage as he hosts the Oscars on Sunday
Associated Press/Invision
Tim McGraw performs at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Gwyneth Paltrow speaks at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Frances Hannon, from left, Reese Witherspoon and Mark Coulier pose with the award for best makeup and hairstyling for ìThe Grand Budapest Hotelî at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Host Neil Patrick Harris speaks on stage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Chiwetel Ejiofor, from left, Pawel Pawlikowski and Nicole Kidman pose in the press room with the award for best foreign language film for "Ida" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Pawel Pawlikowski poses in the press room with the award for best foreign language film for ìIdaî at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Sienna Miller, left, and Chris Evans present the award for achievement in sound mixing at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Jared Leto, right, wipes Patricia Arquette's face as he presents her with the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Boyhood" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Patricia Arquette accepts the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Boyhood" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Jessica Chastain, and from left, Emmanuel Lubezki and Idris Elba pose in the press room with the award for best cinematography for ìBirdman" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Lady Gaga performs during the tribute to "The Sound of Music: at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Anna Kendrick walks backstage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Jennifer Aniston, left, and Jennifer Hudson are seen backstage at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Associated Press/Invision
Scarlett Johansson speaks at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Emmanuel Lubezki poses in the press room with his award for best cinematography for is work on ìBirdman" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
Host Neil Patrick Harris, left, and Anna Kendrick perform at the statr of the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Associated Press/Invision
John Travolta, from left, presents Common and John Legend with the award for best original song in a feature film for "Glory" from "Selma" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
John Legend accepts the award for best original song in a feature film.
Associated Press/Invision
Common, foreground left, and John Legend, foreground right, perform at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Idina Menzel, left and John Travolta present the award for best original song at the Oscars.
Associated Press/Invision
Kristina Reed, left, and Patrick Osborne accept the award for best animated short film for "Feast" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Naomi Watts, left, and Tom Cross pose in the press room with his award for best film editing for "Whiplash" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Benedict Cumberbatch, left, and Naomi Watts present the award for best film editing at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Common performs on stage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Felicity Jones, right, presents Anna Pinnock with the award for best production design for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Jack Black performs at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Octavia Spencer speaks on stage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Felicity Jones, from left, Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock and Chris Pratt pose in the press room with the award for best production design for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Jennifer Aniston and David Oyelowo present the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Benedict Cumberbatch, right, presents Tom Cross with the award for best film editing for "Whiplash" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Patricia Arquette poses in the press room with the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Boyhood" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Anna Kendrick poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Thomas Curley, and from left, Ben Wilkins and Craig Mann pose in the press room with the award for best sound mixing for "Whiplash" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Meryl Streep presents the in memoriam tribute at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Liam Neeson speaks on stage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Chloe Grace Moretz poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Dana Perry, left, and Ellen Goosenberg Kent pose in the press room with the award for best short subject documentary for "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, right, congratulates Emmanuel Lubezki after he won the awardsfor best cinematographer for "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Jared Leto, left, is seen from backstage cleaning the makeup off Patricia Arquette's face as he presents the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Boyhood" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Miles Teller, left, and Margot Robbie are seen backstage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Felicity Jones, left, and Chris Pratt present the award for best production design at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
James Lucas, left, and Mat Kirkby pose in the press room with the award for best live action short film for "The Phone Call" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Zoe Saldana, left, and Dwayne Johnson present the award for best animated feature at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Anna Kendrick, left, and Kevin Hart present the award for achievement in an animated short film at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Viola Davis is seen backstage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
J.K. Simmons, left, and Meryl Streep stand in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Kerry Washington, left, and Viola Davis are seen backstage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Dakota Johnson is seen backstage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Edward Norton, right, congratulates Alejandro G. Inarritu after he won the award for the best original screenplay for "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Eddie Murphy, right, presents Alejandro G. Inarritu with the award for the best original screenplay for "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Graham Moore accepts the award for the best adapted screenplay for "The Imitation Game" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Idina Menzel poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Scarlett Johansson is seen backstage at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for best director for "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Cate Blanchett presents the award for best actor in a leading role at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Ben Affleck presents the award for best director at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
J.K. Simmons, left, and Michelle Schumacher are seen in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Cate Blanchett, left, presents Eddie Redmayne with the award for best actor in a leading role for "The Theory of Everything" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Felicity Jones, left, congratulates Eddie Redmayne after he won the award for best actor in a leading role for "The Theory of Everything" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Eddie Redmayne accepts the award for best actor in a leading role for "The Theory of Everything" at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Jessica Chastain, left, and Idris Elba are seen from backstage as they present the award for best cinematography at the Oscars.
Associated Press/Invision
Chloe Grace Moretz, from left, Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, Scott Fisher and Ansel Elgort pose in the press room with the award for best visual effects for "Interstellar" at the Oscars.
Associated Press/Invision
Host Neil Patrick Harris speaks at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Steve Carell, left, and host Neil Patrick Harris talk in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday.
Associated Press/Invision
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.